Over 230 individuals earned the right to be recognized at the South Georgia Technical College’s Fall 2023 commencement ceremony Thursday, December 14, at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters gymnasium. This was SGTC’s second graduation ceremony for 2023. Approximately 200 individuals received awards at the Spring graduation.
This is SGTC’s 75th anniversary and the graduating students are now among the thousands of individuals who have attended SGTC and moved into career fields all over Georgia, the United States, and the entire world. This group has now become part of SGTC’s proud past and promising future.
SGTC Instructor of the Year Chester Taylor delivered the keynote address speech at the SGTC Fall 2023 Graduation Ceremony.
Chester Taylor, SGTC 2023 Instructor of the Year from the Math Department, was the featured speaker at the ceremony. SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs Julie Partain presided over the graduation ceremony. Academic Deans Dr. David Finley and Brett Murray called each graduate’s name and program of study. Mr. Michael Coley of the SGTC Board of Directors gave the Invocation and Jake Everett, Vice Chair of the SGTC Board of Directors, introduced the keynote speaker.
Sixty-one students earned an Associate of Applied Science degree while another 172 were recognized for earning a diploma in their field of study. Ten students qualified as a Presidential honor graduate which requires an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher and another 14 were spotlighted as an honor graduate with a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89. Three National Technical Honor Society members were also recognized.
In his brief talk to graduates and their family members, Taylor congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and said graduation is a moment of great significance in your lives and the lives of your families. It allows you to reflect on your journey so far, celebrate your achievements, and prepare for the challenges ahead.”
The SGTC gymnasium was full for the Fall 2023 graduation ceremony.
He encouraged graduates and others in the audience to celebrate accomplishments, move forward and face challenges head-on and remember that “you have the skillset, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in whatever you choose to do. Please embrace the opportunities that come your way and always remember the values of integrity, honesty, and hard work that you have learned right here at South Georgia Technical College.” Then he wished everyone the best in their future endeavors.
The SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Accounting (AAS) Sara Rogers of Cordele; Automotive Technology (Diploma) Chase Reeves of Leesburg; Business Technology (Diploma) Paula Shaw of Byromville; Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist (AAS and Diploma) Maurice Williams of Americus; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS and Diploma) Earnest Mansfield of Americus; Culinary Arts (Diploma) Jakia Tynae Cox of Fort Gaines and Kandis Michelle Johnson of Americus; Electrical Construction Technology and Electrical Systems Technology (Diploma) Matthew Helms of Cordele; and Medical Assisting (Diploma) Kristy Tyus of Ellaville.
Presidential Honor Graduate Joseph Jolly of Nashville, Tennessee is shown receiving his second diploma from SGTC President Dr. John Watford.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma) Ethan Douglas Rainey of Cordele; Business Technology (AAS and Diploma) Ke’rinton Girdner of Albany; Business Technology (AAS) Cassidy Mathewsof Vienna; Cosmetology (Diploma), Agyalea Markia Armond of Ellaville and Julissa Mena-Cortez of Cairo; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS and Diploma),Wrenn Harper, Jr., Cordele, and Darryl Rumph, Sr. of Montezuma; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma), Corey Fulks of Oglethorpe and Robert Lewis Turner of Vidalia; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS and Diploma), Yessenia Mazariegos Martinez of Americus; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS), Tasmyn Jolie McCauley of Leesburg; Electrical Construction Technology and Electrical Systems Technology (Diploma) Abelardo Gomez Ruis of Americus; Gabrielle Alexus Wade of Dawson, and George Layton Webb of Smithville.
Three graduates are also members of the National Technical Honor Society. Those individuals are: Joseph Azyriah Jolly of Nashville, Tennessee; Paula T. Shaw of Byromville; and Kristy Strawder Tyus of Ellaville.
The 61 students who earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in the different program areas included: Accounting, Haley Nicole Harry of Preston; and Sara Katelyn Rogers of Cordele;
Air Conditioning Technology, Christopher Ray Huett of Cordele, Ethan Douglas Rainey of Cordele, and Alexis Salazar-Sanchez of Americus; Business Technology, Gwendolyn S. Coley of Americus, Rachel Marie Davis of Vienna, Payto Marie Eubanks of Butler, Ke’rinton Girdner of Albany, Vera clark Lewis of Montezuma, Cassidy Mathews of Vieenna, and Kymbreia Vantrenise Rogers of Warner Robins; Computer Support Specialist, Landon Bryce Gregory of Albany, Makyre Payne of Americus, Ylanda Moneka Tolbert of Cordele, Maurice Lashaun Williams of Americus, and Febeyin Cashmere Woodham of Vienna; Criminal Justice Technology, Charles A. Barnhill of Albany, Latoya Tansheka Brown of Leesburg, Mary Brooke Ciani of Americus, Takeita Denise Clark of Americus, Jazmine Renee Ellis of Fort Valley, Mickayela Espinoza of Americus, Wren Harper, Jr., Cordele, Marissa Charice Harrell of Cordele, Christopher Hill of Warner Robins, Aderica Nicole Johnson of Plains, Elizabeth Ann Koonce of Mauk, Andrew Michael Lee of Leesburg, Sara Elizabeth Long of Cordele, Earnest Calvin Mansfield of Americus, Quinton Moore of Americus, Darryl Rumph, Sr. of Montezuma, Taylor Stone of Americus, TySheannia Sumlin of Americus, Lakessia Sierra Taylor of Byron, and Christopher Alan Wilson of Ellaville; Culinary Arts, Tiffany Nichole Evans of Vienna, and Kandis Michelle Johnson of Americus; Cybersecurity, Makyre Payne of Americus, and Febeyin Cashmere Woodham of Vienna; Early Childhood Care & Education, Octevious D. Baldwin of Montezuma, Walene Yvette Hart of Ellaville, Nikiya Hawkins Lewis of Americus, Yessenia E. Mazariegos Martinez of Americus, Krishenna Latifah Stevens of Americus, and Titina Dreammonia White of Lumpkin; Electronics Technology, Dexter R. Green of Americus, and Krista Renee Hudson of Oglethorpe; Horticulture, Desirae Lynn Cooper of Dry Branch; Marketing Management, Season Adams of Unadilla, Tawana Lashon Baisden of Ellaville, Antoria Raynise Harvey of Americus, Jordan Elizabeth Jackson of Tifton, Crystal Gail Smith of Pitts, ad Nykeria Perkell Wright of Americus; Networking Specialist, Makyre Payne of Americus, Maurice Lashaun Williams of Americus and Joseph Dalton Yarbrough of Cordele.
One hundred and seventy-two students earned diplomas and those students and their programs of study included: Accounting, Haley Nicole Harry, Angela Jones, and Sara Katelyn Rogers; Air Conditioning Technology, Keith Bell, Gerardo Flores, Spencer James McDowell, Alexis Salazar-Sanchez, and Cordell Ta’zhon Winters; Aircraft Structural Technology, Cameron Dwayne Hillsman, Shabrya Michelle Jefferson, and Javion L. Thomas; Auto Collision Repair, Traylor Keshawn Blocker, James Robert Rowdy Hines, and Brandon Jermain Ross; Automotive Technology, Jose Torres Aguilar, David Ray Battle, Keviontae Damarion McKenzie, Chase Riley Reeves, Rosemary Sanchez, Adrian Keith Sibilly, Jr., Alexandria Elizabeth-Nicole Swain, Jaylen Jamarrie Woods, Kameron Alexander Young; Aviation Maintenance Technology, Jeremy Andrew Bradley, Jr. and Tristan J. Griffis; Barbering, Jeremy Montreal Bembry, Jaquiez Marquise Harris, Eric Rashaad Rogers, Cordellius R. Solomon, David Ja’Quan Sumlin, and DeAndre Victor; Business Technology, Mary Solomon Cladd, Rachel Marie Davis, Payton Marie Eubanks, Ke’rinton Girdner, Kymbreia Vantrenise Rogers, Paula T. Shaw, Alequeana K. Stephens, and Jamia Sharee Tyson; Computer Support Specialist, Landon Bryce Gregory, Dorien Malik Jackson, Nickolas Earl Phelps, and Fabeyin Cashmere Woodham;
Cosmetology, Agalea Markia Armond, Carmyn McKenzie Bryant, Katlin Claretha Champion DaQuarius Jonae Daniels, Olivia Alayna Davis, Maci Lynn DeVane, L’Nydia Amari Dunlap, Rosall Sherine Foster, Zoe Margaret Holland, Kadarica Santia Hoston, Odallis Juarez-Levaro, Tasmyn Joile McCauley, Julissa Mena-Cortez, Katy Eunises Sanchez Chirinos; Criminal Justice Technology, Charles A. Barnhill, Mary Brooke Ciani, Brittany Marie Cobb, Jazmine Renee Ellis, Mickayela Espinoza, Wren Harper, Jr., Christopher Hill,Aderica Nicole Johnson, Elizabeth Ann Koonce, Andrew Michael Lee, Sara Elizabeth Long, Earnest Calvin Mansfield, Suzan Deborah Lindell Monson, Darryl Rumph, Sr., Taylor Stone, TySheannia Sumlin, Lakessia Sierra Taylor, and Christopher Alan Wilson; Culinary Arts, Valerie Barber, Jakia Tynae Cox, Janelle Shantell Dodson, Tiffany Nichole Evans, Zaria Nyasia Gamble, Brandy Shantay Lundy, and Lanorris Centell Milledge; Cybersecurity, Makyre Payne and Fabeyin Cashmere Woodham; Diesel Equipment Technology, Corey Fulks, Benjamin Lamar Greene, Jr., Daveon Tavares Johnson, Cody Kontrell Stephens, and Robert Lewis Turner; Early Childhood Care and Education, Octevious D. Baldwin, Yessenia Mazariegos Martinez, Yashica McCoy, Keishenna Latifah Stevens, and Najayla Shermone Williams; Electrical Construction Technology, Willie Maurice Cobb, Merrick Lamonte Fenn, Abelardo Gomez Ruiz, Matthew Paul Helms, Edgar Rangel, James Patrick Still, Gabrielle Alexus Wade, and George Layton Webb; Electrical Systems Technology, Willie Maurice Cobb, Merrick Lamonte Fenn, Abelardo Gomez Ruiz, Matthew Paul Helms, Edgar Rangel, James Patrick Still, Gabrielle Alexus Wade, and George Layton Webb;
Electronics Technology, Dexter R. Green; Horticulture, Desirae Lynn Cooper; Marketing Management, Tawana Lashon Baisden, Ricky Nelson Gorman, Antoria Raynise Harvey, Jordan Elizabeth Jackson, Sheria Shaw Mann, Crystal Gail Smith and Nykeria Perkell Wright; Medical Assisting, Sharmell Kembrise Baldwin, Gweneka Lenore Brwn, Da’Sheyuna Da’Ola Colson, Jasmine Nicole Harris, Ashley Nicole Scott, LaTresa Sade Searcy, Kristy Strawder Tyus, and Francesca Latrece Yancie; Motorsports Vehicle Technology, Devin Sebastian Williams; Networking Specialist, Dorien Malik Jackson, Maurice Lashaun Williams, and Joseph Dalton Yarbrough; Practical Nursing, Jesse Daniel Adkins, Kimberly Michelle Barnes, Maria Kathleen Battle, Tyera Monae Burns, Jessica Carter, Shahida Latai Clarke, Cadeidra Shantrell Crumbley, Tarneika Tyneice Davis, Sydney Espino, Kathryn Meryl Ferry, Erica Keona Hawkins, Rachel Ann Hillman, Diamond Jamira Hollis, Takeya Hollis, Dijah Jackson, Robin Ann Jones, Jha’Neisha Jha’Nae Mathis, Kagen Leigh Mathis, Monica Suzanne Mayberry, Victoria Brooke McNair, Kristie M. Neal, Adeline Valencia Ousley, Aderica Latrice Ross, Youlander Sawyer-Brewton, Morgan Taylor Senkbeil, Tai Nicole Strohmayer, Halie Briana Taylor, Whitney Danielle Thompson, Carshena Ugiagbe, Aislin Lucia Vincente Pelico, Kareem Jarmal Volley, Nykeria Lanee Walker, and Robert L. West; Sports and Fitness Management, Rashad Antwan Lucas. and Welding and Joining Technology, Taevon Raquim Hicks, Matthew Peyton Holloway, Joe’L Law, Levi Cameron Moore, Clarence Isaac Saint, and Caelan John Sawyer.
Photos from the graduation ceremony can be found on the South Georgia Technical College website: www.southgatech.edu in the photo gallery section and on the college’s Facebook page.