AMERICUS — South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) held its 2016 General Educational Development Diploma (GED) Graduation ceremony in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center recently on the SGTC Americus campus.
Amanda Farley of Americus, the South Georgia Technical College 2016 EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) representative, was the guest speaker at the ceremony where approximately 130 students from Sumter, Crisp, Marion, Schley, and Webster counties received their general equivalency diplomas.
Farley represented SGTC at the Technical College System of Georgia’s Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) conference earlier this year and was selected as one of the top eighth finalists for the State EAGLE award by the Technical College System of Georgia. She was competing against the top 26 adult learners in the state for her outstanding achievement in the state’s adult education program. Each year, the SGTC EAGLE delegate is asked to serve as the guest speaker at the GED graduation ceremony.

Farley congratulated each of the graduates on accomplishing their goal of achieving their GED but then challenged them to continue to work hard and not to quit.
“You have reached a milestone today and I hope that you plan to continue your education. Your GED gives you the opportunity to continue to pursue your dreams. I am currently enrolled at South Georgia Technical College and I hope you will, too,” said Farley.
SGTC President John Watford, Ed.D., welcomed the graduates, faculty members, family and friends who came to the John M. Pope Center for the ceremony. He also congratulated the graduates on their achievements and remind them that this was the first step on their educational journey and that South Georgia Technical College had over 200 different programs for them to choose from.
Jan Hobgood, assistant vice president for Adult Education at SGTC, introduced Farley as guest speaker and after her inspirational talk, Watford, Hobgood and GED Examiner Connie Wise recognized the graduates and presented them with their diplomas.

“This is an exciting day for many of you here tonight,” said Watford to the large crowd who gathered to support the graduates and their accomplishments. “We are here to honor you and your achievements tonight.”
The Rev. Michael Cunningham delivered the invocation at the ceremony. Elaine Skipper provided the piano selections including the traditional processional and music for the graduates.
The graduation ceremony was sponsored in part by the Americus Rotary Club and supported by many community businesses and organizations including: Hammack Well Inc., Food Lion of Americus and Cordele, Lowe’s of Americus, Piggly Wiggly of Oglethorpe, SGTC Environmental Horticulture, Harvey’s of Americus, Wolf Creek Sod/Darrell Hobgood, Wal-Mart of Americus and Cordele, HOPES – Helping Ourselves Pursue Education in Schley County, LEAP – Learning for Everyone/Avenue to Progress, Marion County Family Connection/Advisory, and Webster County Advisory.
Special thanks to those individuals and organizations who help provide GED scholarships including: Ruth Jones/Girls Educating with Donations Scholarships, LEAP/Sherry Royle Scholarship, Cordele Housing Authority, Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce, AT&T, Men on the Move, and Schley County Certified Literate Community/HOPES.
Listed below are the GED graduates from the local/area counties who participated in the ceremony.
Sumter County: Dexter Alridge, Kaylyn Bacon, Christopher Lee Baker, Angel Brown, DeAndre Brown, Demarcus Brown, Christopher Bowens, Cameron Buffington, Andrea Burton, Ashley Butler,
Tyler Butts, Alexandra Carnes, Thomas Callier, Jaquarious Calloway, Gloria Carter, Ambry Chambers, Jessica Cochran, Jeremy Converse, Bridgett Cox, Jennifer Cromer,
Adonis Darty, Payton Daughtry, Jasmine Dennis, Kentrell Deriso, Miraya Espinoza, Demonta Filer, Dana Grant, Mikayla Glover, Briandrea Hicks, Dalton Hobbs,
Neil Tommy Horn, Lakeria Hosley, Tayton Howard, Lorenzo Jenkins, Lorenza Journey, Briashjian King, Christopher King, Lacie Kitchens, Ashley Larson, Brandi Lasiter,
Dylan Layfield, Antonio Moore, Tamekia Morse, Savannah Mote, Michael Pangle, Keyuri Patel, Joshua Perry, Marcel Prater, James Reed, Nakia Rhone,
Deariel Richardson, Marquavious Rogers, Sabrina Rueda, Brianna Sargent, Jacob See, Tami Smith, Crystal Stephens, Ester Turner, Laura Turner, Terrence Turner, Michael Watson, Matthew Wilson and Robert Hunter Yates
Marion County: Ashley Gillus and Ashlye Potter
Schley County: Conner Barrow, Pablo Castaneda, Bethany Ashley Coe, Jacob Cromer, David Justin Dean, Jacob Grant, Zackary Howell, Arrolyn Isaacs, Summer Jaynes, Keyanna Mitchell, Clayton Nelson, Ashley Stanford, and Madeline Stephens

Webster County: Kayla Holbrook
The SGTC Adult Education instructors include Lissa Faircloth, Martha Ann Fennessy, Debra Graham, Joan Granville, Connie Hammack, David Hunter, Tracy Israel, Angie Kauffman, Mary King, Wanda Smith, Sophronia Thompkins and Tonya Visage.
The staff members include Jan Hobgood, assistant vice president for Adult Education, SDA 15; Lisa Jordan, Adult Education secretary; Kenia Wills, data entry technician; and Tracy Israel, transition specialist. Connie Wise is the chief GED examiner.