Sixteen graduates of the South Georgia Technical College Practical Nursing program received their nursing pins in a recent ceremony in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus. A crowd of family, friends, administrators, and instructors attended the event to show their support as the students participated in the traditional pinning ritual.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford welcomed those in attendance and thanked everyone for their support of the graduates. Practical Nursing instructor Jennifer Childs provided a class overview and presented a slideshow featuring the students over the course of their studies in the program.
Laketta Jackson was selected by her classmates to speak for the class. “This pin is more than a pin to us, it is promise and a promise fulfilled,” she said. “We took a chance on ourselves one year ago. We were nervous and the journey has not been easy but we got here. Thank you for believing in us,” she added.
After the speech, Jennifer Childs and fellow Practical Nursing instructor Christine Rundle called each member of the class to the stage individually to receive their pin and a rose.
Graduates receiving their pins were Destinee Bridges of Americus; Fabriana Coleman of Cordele; Cecilia Griff of Ellaville; Breanna Guinn of Columbus; Tamiya Hall of Bryomville; Kennetra Harris of Montezuma; Laketta Jackson of Columbus; Aumadia Lewis of Americus; Alicia Jones Royal of Preston; Morgan Russell of Marion County; Nadine Shirley of Americus; Halle Smith of Abbeville; Miranda Thornton of Ellaville; Johnny Walker of Leslie; Destiny Wise of Casa Grande, AZ; and Jayden Yarbrough of Americus.
After the pinning, Alicia Jones Royal led the class in the Nurse’s Pledge and the lighting of the lamp. Instructor Christine Rundle gave closing remarks followed by a prayer and benediction by graduate Breanna Guinn.
The Practical Nursing program at South Georgia Technical College is one of over 200 programs SGTC offers leading to a degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit. Learn more about all of the programs and apply for enrollment at www.southgatech.edu. Fall semester begins August 18.
It is not too late to sign up for Fall Semester. Click on Apply Now on the SGTC website homepage. Orientation and registration is set for Wednesday, August 13.
