“Your story isn’t over,” said Jacob Harris, South Georgia Technical College 2025 GED graduate and speaker at the South Georgia Technical College 2025 Summer High School Equivalency graduation ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the SGTC Americus campus. Thirty-one students earned their General Educational Development (GED) Diploma and were recognized for that accomplishment.
Shown above are the SGTC 2025 High School Equivalency graduates.
Harris spoke for and to a capacity crowd which featured graduates from Sumter, Crisp, Schley, Macon, Taylor, Lee, Muscogee, and Tift counties. Harris is currently enrolled in the Avionics program at SGTC. Tonya Visage, Adult Education Instructor, introduced Harris as the guest speaker.
“We did it. Standing here today is not just about getting our GED diploma. It isn’t just a personal milestone. It is proof that with determination, support, and second chances, anything is possible. My journey to this point wasn’t easy. Before I found this program, my whole life was chaotic. There were days when things felt so out of control that school was the last thing on my mind.
“And then Covid hit and everything got much harder. I struggled to stay focused and motivated and to feel like anything mattered. But something changed. I was given a second chance in this GED program. I found structure, purpose and most importantly people who believed in me,” said Harris. “And now I wake up everyday excited to learn and practice problem solving in a field that motivates my mind as well as my hands.
“This program changed my life. It gave me confidence, direction and a second chance at my future. Today isn’t just about a diploma, it’s about resilience, growth, and recovery. So, if anyone out there is struggling, know this. Your story isn’t over. If I can be here today, so can you. Thank you for allowing me to speak for all of us,” said Harris in closing.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford thanked the graduates and their families and friends for supporting each other during this journey. “I want to express my sincere appreciation and excitement and my personal congratulations to each one of these graduates here tonight,” said President Watford. “We are all here for one common purpose and that is to honor these graduates.
“They have accomplished a very great goal. And they had to make a lot of other great decisions to get to this point. You should be proud of the fact that you set that goal and met a lot of objectives to get to this GED graduation,” continued Dr. Watford.
Then he challenged the graduates to always continue learning and encouraged them to continue their education with South Georgia Technical College. “One of the songs played tonight as you walked in was ‘Dream the Impossible Dream.’ Don’t forget to always dream the impossible dream and always try even when your arms may be too heavy as the song says.”
After Harris’ talk, President Watford, Dean of Adult Education Tracy Israel and Adult Education Instructor Tonya Visage recognized the graduates and presented them with their diplomas and a token of appreciation.
SGTC Diesel Mechanic Instructor and father of a 2025 graduate, David Cox, delivered the invocation at the ceremony. Lisa Truitt, Adult Education Career Services Specialist, provided the piano selections including the traditional processional and music for the graduates.
Listed below are the South Georgia Technical College High School Equivalency graduates from the individual counties who earned their GED and the right to participate in the ceremony:
Sumter County
Devan Bolton, Gracie Cox, Jacob Harris, Joshua Moore, Jr., Christopher Tyler, Dalan Wright, and Elizabeth Dodd;
Crisp County
Savannah Hughes, Robert Krause, Destiny Neisent, Chartavious Pittman, Daniel Smith, Zharia Williams, and Zion Wilson;
Schley County
Frank Brady, Leann Gunnels, Courtney Jones, and Katrina Mueke;
Macon County
Sara Hardage, Jensi King, Katelyn Yoder, and Lucinda Yoder;
Taylor County
Samuel Langston, Lillian Peacock, Arron Thompson, Angelina Vorase, and Kaitlin Murray;
Lee County
Dexter Cooper, Jr. and Ava Rowland;
Muscogee County
Justin Trawick;
Tift County
Angel Belmontes Perez
Tracy Israel is the South Georgia Technical College Program Administrator for Adult Education for SDA 15, Lisa Jordan is the Adult Education Administrative Assistant, Lisa Truitt is the Career Services Specialist and Lisa Holloway is the Instructional Lead. Michael Simmons is the GED Chief Examiner and Rodney Perry, and Shuri Rand are GED Examiners. The South Georgia Tech Adult Education instructors include: Demetria Clark, Sandra Dantes, Margie Everett, Lissa Faircloth, James Ingram, Mary King, Margie Martin, Danny Payne, LaDaisha Rumph, Tonya Visage, and Destiny Walker.
For more information about the Adult Education High School Equivalency classes, contact South Georgia Tech at 229.931.2565.