The proud past and promising future of South Georgia Technical College was on full display recently at the college’s Spring 2022 commencement ceremony Thursday, May 5th at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters Gymnasium on the Americus campus in front of a capacity crowd. This was the first in-person graduation ceremony for South Georgia Technical College since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Approximately 165 students, 48 of which were either Presidential Honor or regular Honor Graduates, received awards of either an associate degree or a diploma during the 2022 May commencement ceremony. Students must have an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher to qualify as a Presidential honor graduate and a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89 to qualify as an honor graduate. National Technical Honor Society members were also recognized.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Kuipers presided over the graduation ceremony and introduced Rev. Michael Coley from the SGTC Board of Directors to give the invocation.
President Watford welcomed graduates and their families and recognized special guests. Don Porter, Chair of the SGTC local Board of Directors, introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, South Georgia Technical College Culinary Arts student ZaKyah Cameron, who is the SGTC 2022 GOAL (Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership) student.
In his brief talk to graduates and their family members, Cameron congratulated the graduates and challenged them to continue on their educational journey. He thanked South Georgia Technical College’s administration and faculty and staff for their support of the students. He also recognized the family members who helped support the graduates to be able to reach this milestone.
After Cameron’s address, President Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Kuipers presented the diplomas to the graduates. Eighty students received an Associate of Applied Science degree and 82 unduplicated diplomas were awarded.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Agricultural Technology (AAS Degree) Matthew David Burton of Quincy, FL, and Mason Talmedge Johns of Blakely; Computer Support Specialist (AAS Degree and Diploma) Drake Alexander Liu Weldin of Richland; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS Degree and Diploma) Denivet Sanchez Chirinos of Americus; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS Degree and Diploma) Christiana M. Smith of Albany; and (Diploma) Haley Alexis Helms of Cordele; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma),Timkaveion Jamal Henderson of Cordele; Electronics Technology (AAS Degree), Itsel Mazariago Martinez of Americus; Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology (AAS) Jacob Randall Atkins of Luttrell, TN; Eli James Bagby of Cohutta; James Edward Bozeman of St. Augustine, FL; Jaysen Jewell of Albany; Caiden Lee Miller of Bountville, TN; Parker Thomas Rasnic of Thorn Hill, TN; John-Keith Thomas Verble of Jonesborough, TN; and Simon David Westra of Dover, FL; and Welding and Joining Technology (Diploma) Dominic Peyton Hodgins of Cobb.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Agricultural Technology (AAS),Jarrod Brice Alford of Noxapater, MS; Grant Philip Boehling of Phenix City, AL; Garrison Lewis Gay of Moultrie; Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma), Timothy L. Morgan of Cordele; Auto Collision Repair Technology (Diploma), Timothy Michael Richardson of Preston; Automotive Technology (Diploma) Jakob Tate Eubanks of Americus, and Juan Antonio Solano of Americus; Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist (AAS),Michael Todd Keen of Cordele; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS), Jacqueline Teresa Miller of Albany; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma) Donald Gay of Leesburg; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS & Diploma) Ginger Money of Preston; (Diploma) Natasha Brown of Leslie; Electrical Construction Technology and Electrical Systems Technology (Diploma) Cody Daniel Gills of Pitts, and Samuel Jessie Simmons of Hawkinsville; Electrical Power Generation Dealer Service Technology (AAS) Thomas Andrew French of Maryville, TN; and Gabriel Lagos of Lawrenceville; Electrical Systems Technology (Diploma), David Lloyd of Americus; Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology (AAS) Michael Gene Clendenin of Monticello; and Alex Clayton Laird of Brooksville, FL; Peyton Alexander Norris of Sylvan Springs, AL; Benjamin Garrett Shows of Mount Olive, MS; Maverick Allen Smith of Zebulon; and Samuel R. Wilhoit of Cleveland, TN; Marketing Management (AAS Degree) Kenyatta Ruth Slaugher of Buena Vista; Medical Assisting (Diploma) Shana Marie Jolly of Warwick and Emily Grace Wiggins of Americus; Motorsports Vehicle Technology (Diploma) Jesse Alexander Salazar of Americus; Networking Specialist (Diploma) Christopher Andrew Lowell of Plains; Sports and Fitness Management (AAS) T’Keyah Kiana Dennard of Georgetown; and Matija Milivojevic of Serbia;
Eighty students earned Associate of Applied Science degrees and those students and their programs of study included: Agricultural Technology, Jarrod Brice Alford of Noxapater, MS, Mason Anthony Barnes of Clearwater, FL, Grant Phillip Boehling of Phoenix City, AL, Matthew David Burton of Quincy, FL, Paul Eugene Davis of Ruskin, FL, Garrison Lewis Gay of Moultrie, GA, Mason Talmedge Johns of Blakely, GA, Tucker Addison Maddox of Hawkinsville, GA, Levi Shaun McDaniel of Hazlehurst, GA, Joel Barton Tate of Troy, AL, Ty Logan Taylor of Denton, GA, Ryan Demontae Wade of Blakely, GA, and Joshua Dewayne Walker of Sylvester, GA; Business Technology, Elizabeth Adams and Mary Louise Adams of Americus, Edward Joshua Golden of Cordele, and Je’Risha Hamilton of Lilly, GA; Computer Support Specialist, Everett Tanner Allen and Michael Todd Keen of Cordele, Drake Alexander Liu Weldin of Richland, and Kenneth Chase Wiggins of Ellaville; Criminal Justice Technology, Scotteshia Lyndetta Adkinson of Bromville; Sherronda Bacon-Mercer of Warner Robins, Denivet Sanchez Chirinos of Americus, Alisa Sales Colwell of Albany, Yesenia Garcia-Getierrez of Oglethorpe, Ashley Lamberth of Pitts, Sylvia Gillis McKinney of Arabi, Jacqueline Teresa Miller of Albany, Ke’juanah Zykel Morgan of Americus; KeAndrewa Latrice Ray of Cordele, Mikessia Tykerrious Reese and Courtney Lavette Seay of Americus, and Rebecca Sutton of Pinehurst; Early Childhood Care & Education, Makayla Tatyanna Cobb of Americus, Britney Lashawn Davis of Georgetown, Keyonna Shanae Hamlin of Dothan, AL; Jada Cyterial Harpe of Americus, Karissa Tysha Hill of Cordele, Aderica Nicole Johnson of Plains, Ginger Money of Preston, Ty’Keyah D. Munford of Abbeville, Sharkerria T. Redding of Cordele, Christiana M. Smith of Albany, and Theresa Elaine Young of Vienna; Electrical Power Generation Dealer Service Technology, Thomas Andrew French of Maryville, TN, and Gabriel Lagos of Lawrenceville, Electronics Technology, Itsel Mazariago Martinez of Americus, Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology; Jacob Randall Atkins of Luttrell, TN, Eli James Bagby of Cohutta, James Edward Bozman of Saint Augustine, FL, Michael Gene Clendenin of Monticello, Blake W. Ford of Ripley, TN, Thomas Andrew French of Maryville, TN, Jaysen Jewell of Albany, Alex Clayton Laird of Brooksville, FL, Ciaden Lee Miller of Blountville, TN, Peyton Alexander Norris of Sylvan Springs, AL, Parker Thomas Rasnic of Thorn Hill, TN, Benjamin Garrett Shows of Mount Olive, MS, Maverick Allen Smith of Zebulon, Kaleb Dalton Spruille of Fayetteville, Mason Underkoffler of Titusville, FL, John-Keith Verble of Jonesborough, TN, Simon David Westra of Dover, FL, and Samuel R. Wilhot of Cleveland, TN; Marketing Management,
Kenyatta Ruth Slaughter of Buena Vista; Networking Specialist; Everett Tanner Allen and Michael Todd Keen of Cordele, and Christopher Lowell of Plains; and Sports and Fitness Management, Malik Akeem Battle of Austell, T’Keyah Kiana Dennard of Georgetown, Kallin Christopher Fonseca of Youngsville, LA, Justice Daniel Hayes of Cartersville, Tena Ikidi of Nigeria, William Johnson, Australia, Marvin McGhee, III of Atlanta, Matija Milivojevic of Serbia, and Maikya Simmons of Stafford, VA.
Eighty-two students were awarded diplomas and those students and their programs of study included: Air Conditioning – Demetrius Keon Dempsey, Ge’Arius JacQuez Hestle, Joshiah W. McCoy and Timothy L. Morgan; Auto Collision Repair – Timothy Michael Richardson, Jamaine Bernard Thomas, and Lyam Isaih Waiters; Automotive Technology – Donell Terrell Dodson, Jakob Tate Eubanks and Juan Antonio Solano; Business Technology – Gwendolyn Storey Coley, KeShawn M. Robinson and Fabiola San Martin Garcia; Computer Support Specialist – Everett Tanner Allen, Christopher Bowens, Jr., Makyre Payne, and Drake Alexander Liu Weldin; Criminal Justice Technology – Scotteshia Lydnetta Adkinson, Sherronda Bacon-Mercer, Gweneka L. Brown, Denivet Sanchez Chirinos, Alisa Sales Colwell, Marissa Charice Harrell, Ashley Lamberth, Ke’juanah Zykel Morgan, KeAndrea Latrice Ray, Mikessia Tykerious Reese, and Timiria Robinson; Culinary Arts – L’Niqua Aquisha Warner; Diesel Equipment Technology – Donald Gay and Timkaveion Jamal Henderson; Early Childhood Education – Alicia Nicole Ballard, Tameal Nicole Bowens, Natasha Brown, Tondrea Burton, Antannesha Clayton, Haley Alexis Helms, Nikiya Hawkins Lewis, Ginger Money, Shakerria T. Redding, Christiana M. Smith, and Theresa Elaine Young; Electrical Construction Technology – Cody Daniel Gillis, Benjamin Matthew Peavy, Samuel Jessie Simmons, and Evan James Thompson; Electrical Systems Technology – Cody Daniel Gillis, David Lloyd, Benjamin Matthew Peavy, Samuel Jessie Simmons, Mykell Maurice Thomas, and Evan James Thompson; Firefighter/EMSP – Choyce L. Smith; Marketing Management – Jakneeca Manise Mitchell and Kenyatta Ruth Slaughter; Medical Assisting – Tabaitha Allen, Shana Marie Jolly, Elexus Kierra Lundy, Jennifer Nicole Moore, Janaita Derrika Pride, Hannah Nicole Simpson, Kierra Alexis Tommie, Lakeisha Nicole Walker, and Emily Grace Wiggins; Motorsports Vehicle Technology – Nirobia K. Lavant and Jesse Alexander Salazar; Sports and Fitness Management – Malik Akeem Battle, T’keyah Kiana Dennard, Kallin Christopher Fornseca, Justice Daniel Hayes, Tena Ikidi, William Johnston, Marvin McGhee, III, Matija Milivojevic, and Maikya Simmons; Welding and Joining Technology – John Chanler Cooper, Elijah Mark Harris, Dominic Peyton Hodgins, Tekal James Lloyd, William Conner Priest, Rossie Andrew Ross, and Logan Michael Wurtz.
After each graduate had received their award, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers declared to President Watford that the graduates had completed the requirements for graduation as set forth by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
Afterwards, Rev. Michael Coley gave the benediction and the graduates recessed to the music of Pomp and Circumstance. 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.
