South Georgia Technical College recently held its Fall 2025 High School Equivalency graduation ceremony in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the SGTC Americus campus. Thirty-six students earned their General Educational Development (GED) Diploma or High School Equivalency and were recognized for that accomplishment.
James Ingram, South Georgia Technical College Adult Education Instructor at Sumter County Corrections, was the guest speaker at the event, which featured graduates from Sumter, Crisp, Houston, Lee, Macon, Marion, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Taylor, and Webster counties.
Ingram is retired from the United States Army and a retiree from the United States Social Security Administration. He is a graduate of The Fort Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership. He is also very active in his community and teaches the adult education classes at the Sumter County Corrections facility.
SGTC Dean of Adult Education Tracy Israel welcomed everyone to the graduation ceremony. SGTC President Dr. John Watford followed with a brief congratulatory message. “Each graduate tonight has a different and inspiring story,” said Dr. Watford. “Each of you are an inspiration to me for what you have accomplished. We are proud of you for your commitment to complete what you started. I know you had help from instructors and family members but you had to do the work.
“The instructors set the pace but you had to do your part and do the work to get here tonight. I hope that you don’t let it stop here. You have come too far to stop here. I hope you continue your pursuit of education,” added Dr. Watford. “We all have different purposes but I hope you will do something to continue to become better. We are proud of you for your accomplishments. Congratulations.” Dr. Watford also took time to recognize the friends and family members of the graduates.
After Dr. Watford’s short talk, James Ingram had a few remarks for the graduates. “Congratulations to each of you here tonight for making this milestone,” said Adult Education speaker James Ingram. “This was not a sprint. It was a marathon. You completed four years of high school in four tests – science, social studies, math and reading-language arts. It may have taken you different lengths of time to get here, but you did it and you earned this credential.
“You made it across the finish line. What a milestone. From here, the sky is the limit. You have documentation. You may have had to face a detour or two, but you didn’t let it stop you. Take pride in what you have done and congratulations again,” said Ingram.
After Ingram’s talk, President Watford, SGTC Dean of Adult Education Tracy Israel and SGTC Adult Education Instructor Tonya Visage recognized the graduates and presented them with their diplomas and a token of appreciation.
Adult Education Chief Testing Examiner Michael Simmons delivered the invocation at the ceremony. Lisa Truitt 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 or HSE Diploma and the right to participate in the ceremony:
Sumter County
Caitlyn Daniels, Hayden Ekkel, Josh Elliott, Ellie Hunt, Tabitha Kendrick, MacKenzie Rampley, Ricardo Reyes, Ryan Self, Nichlas Singley, and Kamoria Stewart;
Crisp County
Gabriela Cansino, Jeannie Hampton, Mina Navaez Ileana, Sara Jackson, Lana Jones, Jayden Mumphery, and Camran Caldwell;
Houston County
Aaron Merritt;
Lee County
Melinda Hancock;
Macon County
Kyler Kauffman, Austin Yoder, Bethany Yoder, Bryce Yoder, Cameron Yoder, Eric Yoder, Jadon Yoder, Terrance Yoder, and Tonya Yoder;
Marion County
Caroline Clower;
Randolph County
Jacobi Tyson;
Schley County
Marah Sowell and Caylee Thornton;
Stewart County
Carey Russell;
Taylor County
Noah Lawrence and;
Webster County
Ashten English
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 lead instructor. Michael Simmons is the HSE Chief Examiner, and Shuri Rand is the HSE Examiner. The South Georgia Tech Adult Education instructors include: Demetria Clark, Sandra Dantes, Margie Everett, Lissa Faircloth, James Ingram, Mary King, Margie Martin, Daniel 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.
A complete gallery of the GED graduation photos can be found on the SGTC website at: www.southgatech.edu under the photo galleries and on the South Georgia Tech Facebook page.