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By Su Ann Bird

 

AMERICUS – South Georgia Technical College recently held its Fall 2023 High School Equivalency graduation ceremony in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the SGTC Americus campus.  Forty-one students earned their General Educational Development (GED) Diploma and were recognized for that accomplishment.

Katelyn M. Thorpe, South Georgia Technical College Adult Education 2023 High School Equivalency student, was the guest speaker at the event, which featured graduates from Sumter, Crisp, Macon, Marion, Schley, Taylor, Turner, and Webster counties.

SGTC President Dr. John Watford opened the event and welcomed everyone to the graduation ceremony.  “We are very proud of your accomplishments,” said Dr. Watford to the graduates.  “You set your goals and now you have achieved this graduation milestone.  Tonight, we also recognize your teachers, your family, and friends who have invested their time and helped you achieve your dreams.”

Dr. Watford added, “But I encourage you not to stop now.  There is so much more that you can do.  Consider continuing your education at SGTC.  We are committed to you and to helping you realize your goals.  Our next semester starts in January and we are here to help you begin a new journey.”

Lillie Ann Winn, South Georgia Tech Dean of Adult Education, echoed Dr. Watford’s congratulations and introduced Katelyn Thorpe as the guest speaker for the event.  “Katelyn is a product of the June 2023 High School Equivalency graduation and now she is enrolled in the SGTC Early Childhood Education program,” said Winn.

“Congratulations to each of you here tonight,” said Adult Education speaker Katelyn Thorpe.  “My journey began when I received a certificate of attendance or completion from high school at the age of 22.  I had to get my GED in order to enroll in college.  Twelve years later, I finally realized that goal and now I am enrolled at South Georgia Technical College.”

 

Thorpe said that her family moved here in 2019 and even though she had attended HSE classes in other places, South Georgia Technical College and the adult education program was the best she had experienced.  “Our move here was the best thing ever and South Georgia Technical College is the best college you could ever get into.  They are all about helping students.”

Thorpe also shared that her goal is to be able to continue at SGTC and get her diploma and be able to work as a paraprofessional with Special Education students.  Then she encouraged the graduates to “be the bright spot of the day for others and don’t wait, go ahead and enroll today at South Georgia Technical College.”

After Thorpe’s talk, President Watford, SGTC Dean of Adult Education Lillie Ann Winn and SGTC Adult Education Career Services Specialist Tracy Israel recognized the graduates and presented them with their diplomas and a token of appreciation.

 

Adult Education instructor Robbie Edalgo from Crisp County 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 and the right to participate in the ceremony:

Sumter County

Jabari Bradley,Miguel Broca, DErica Daniels, Jala Davis, Anthony foster, Ashley Garcia, Ilana Harper, Dewayne Jackson, Emily Kauffman, Johnny Lara, Christopher Morris, Shia Pace, Faith Taylor, Holli Willis, and Jagger Yoder;

Crisp County

Joshua Berry,Brendan Browning, Timothy Collier, Michael Davenport, Nicholas Dye, Neddie Flowers, Lesley Goodroe, Valancia Jackson, Chad Jones, Jonathan Peacock, Kaitlin Pettis, Natalee Starnes, Whitnee Thornton, Breanna Wade, and Dixie Webb;

Macon County

Madison Greene, and Joshua Mygrant;

Marion County

Aunna Canington and Nikki Henderson;

Schley County

Kucas Huff, Skylar Stowe, and Grace Tallent;

Taylor County

Robert Roland;

Webster County

Allexsis Burdue, Tapanga Monkus, and Miachael Peavey.

Lillie Ann Winn is the South Georgia Technical College Program Administrator for Adult Education for SDA 15, Lisa Jordan is the Adult Education Administrative Assistant, Tracy Israel is the Career Services Specialist, Lisa Truitt is the HSE Chief Examiner, and Rodney Perry, Shuri Rand, and Kenia Wills are HSE Examiners.  The South Georgia Tech Adult Education instructors include:  Robbie Edalgo, Margie Everett, Lissa Faircloth, Lisa Holloway, James Ingram, Angie Kauffman, Mary King, Margie Martin, Daniel Payne, Tonya Visage, and Mary Wooldridge.

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 at: https://www.southgatech.edu/photo/sgtc-fall-2023-high-school-equivalency-graduation/