SGTC commencement ceremony largest ever | Events

CRISP and SUMTER COUNTIES, GA – News release from South Georgia Technical College

South Georgia Technical College conducted the largest commencement ceremony in the history of the college on Thursday, June 21st at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters Gymnasium on the Americus campus with a capacity crowd.

Over 500 students, 96 of which were either Presidential honor or regular honor graduates, received awards of either an associate degree or a diploma during the commencement ceremony held in June.

Students must have an overall grade point average of 3.9 to qualify as a Presidential honor graduate and a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89 to qualify as an honor graduate.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. John Watford presided over the ceremony and introduced Rev. Bill Dupree who gave the invocation.

SGTC President Sparky Reeves welcomed graduates and their families and recognized special guests. Willie Patrick, chair of the SGTC local Board of Directors introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Kerry Beaver, SGTC’s 2012 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner.

“Graduates, congratulations on this honor,” said Beaver, as she addressed the largest crowd to ever attend a South Georgia Technical College graduation ceremony.

Beaver who is a second generation South Georgia Technical College graduate talked about her father, John Beaver, who graduated from South Georgia Tech and went on to establish his own successful business. She also talked about her own decision to return to college after having been out in the world of work for a number of years.

“Education is something that no one can ever take away from you,” said Beaver. “Each of us are here today, because we chose to start our education and continued to push forward until we completed our task. I think we all deserve another round of applause.”

After Beaver’s address, President Reeves, Dr. Watford, and Don Smith, assistant to the president, presented the diplomas to the graduates. One hundred and four students received Associate of Applied Science degrees and 396 diplomas were awarded.

One special highlight of the largest graduation ever was the awarding of diploma’s to a mother and her two sons. Bonnie Bullard of Vienna received the Early Childhood Care and Education diploma and her two sons, Jaroskey and Quarius Bullard also received diplomas. Jaroskey Bullard of Vienna, received his diploma in Aircraft Structural Technology. He was a Presidential Honor Graduate. Quarius Bullard of Unadilla received his diploma in Motorsports Vehicle Technology and he was an Honor Graduate.

SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Accounting (AAS), Gordon Keath Eason (AAS and Diploma) of Tifton; Accounting, Amber Raybon of Americus; Air Conditioning Technology, Tommie L. Brown, Jr. of Cordele and Kevin E. Huddleston of Andersonville; Aircraft Structural Technology, Jaroskey Bullard of Vienna, Clint Couey of Ellaville, Virginia Ann Dare-Finch, Christopher J. Fiertner of Americus, Brandon Jasper Goodin of Ellaville, Michael D. Harrod of Leslie, Ryan Lace of Leslie, Kelsey Deon Oliver, Wanda Lagene Smith of Americus, Charles Richard Speegle, Jr. of Ellaville, Dexter C. Williamson of Perry, and Phyllis Wright of Cobb; Automotive Technology, Dennis H. Davis of Americus; Computer Support Specialist (AAS) and Networking Specialist (AAS), Jervonny Jones of Cordele and David Wilkerson of Cordele; Cosmetology, Carla Hayes of Montezuma; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS), Catheren Elizabeth McClintock of Andersonville, Criminal Justice Technology, Dorcas Martinez Reyes of Plains; Diesel Equipment Technology, Matthew James Benefield of Tallapoosa, GA; Drafting Technology, Victor J. Wanner, Jr., of Americus; Early Childhood Care Education , Patricia M. Blanchard of Cordele, Virginia W. Moore of Americus, Susie Mae Thomas of Americus and Bernice Tullis of Americus; Electrical Construction and Maintenance Industrial Electrical Technology, Samuel J. Handley of Arabi, and Raul Juarez of Bainbridge; Heavy Equipment Dealers Service (AAS), Brandon Tyler Vickery of Newberry, FL; Medical Assisting, Angela Michelle Britt of Pitts; Motorsports Vehicle Technology, Keith Allen Wofford of Americus; Networking Specialist (AAS & Diploma) Walter K. Bentley of Ellaville; and Welding & Joining Technology, Timothy Rigsby of Cordele.

SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Accounting (AAS), Chetara Horn of Unadilla; Accounting (Diploma) Elizabeth D. Cole of Americus; Air Conditioning Technology, Clayton Cook of Leary, Kenneth Martin of Ellaville and James Travis Wright of Ellaville; Aircraft Structural Technology, Gary A. Daniel, Sr., of Americus, Fred Davis of Montezuma, Howard Helms, Jr. of Americus; Cory Alan Lowell of Americus; Patrick Rupe of Ideal, Eric Lane Searcy, Jr. of Butler, Joseph Sherlock of Byron, Bobby Spivey of Byromville, Sally Watts of Americus, and Shane Wilson of Americus; Automotive Collision Repair Technology, Michael Jerry Goodroe of Cordele; Aviation Maintenance Technology, Kirby Laurence Hicks of Dawson; Avionics Maintenance Technology, Kirby Laurence Hicks of Dawson, Walter Medlin of Montezuma; Business Administrative Technology, Rebecca Thompson of Ideal; Computer Support Specialist (AAS) and Networking Specialist (AAS), Jessica Lee Arnett of Cordele and James Eddie West of Warwick; Computer Support Specialist (AAS) Cyndria J. Barron of Montezuma, Constance Cruz of Albany, Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist (diploma) Nancy Collins of Arabi; Cosmetology, Jennifer Angry of Americus, Natasha Sharell Johnson of Ellaville, Trudy Kirksey of Reynolds, and Nancy Tramel of Oglethope; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS), Chelsey Howard of Cordele; Culinary Arts (AAS), Matthew Dunn of Leesburg, Nancy Gerlach of Americus, and Joshua Hodnett of Warner Robins; Culinary Arts (diploma), Gerard William DeLellis, Jr; of Andersonville, Nancy Gerlach of Americus, Ronald B. Gresham of Pineview, William George Mann, Jr., of Cordele, Sudanthi Pelmadu of Americus, and Julia M. Sims of Americus; Diesel Equipment Technology, Brian Cullen Butler of Americus; Early Childhood Care Education, Tawana Baisden of Ellaville, Francesca Nicole Clark of Cordele, Kakeisha Dorsey of Americus, Daphne Hadley of Montezuma, Walene Hart of Ellaville, and Lashonda Perry Richardson of Albany; Electronics Technology, Arthur Mays of Americus; Environmental Horticulture, Stacy Hester Dowdy of Smithville; Heavy Equipment Dealers Service (AAS),Laramie Glenn Broome of Bassfield, MS, Charles Dalton Brunink of Keystone Heights, FL, Sam King of Bloomington, IL, and Jonathan Woodson of Maben, MS; Industrial Systems Technology, William Wesley Hinson of Albany; Machine Tool Technology, David Johnson of Norman Park and Gary Lee Stanford of LaGrange; Medical Assisting, Rodel Luna David of Americus and Carissa Dawn Round of Byromville; Motorsports Vehicle Technology, Quarius Bullard of Unadilla; and Welding & Joining Technology, Jamion Terrell Trice of Cordele.

One hundred and four students earned Associate of Applied Science degrees and those students and their programs of study included: Accounting, Kimberly Michelle Battle of Americus, Shonda Boddie of Americus, Kennethia Tukes Carithers of Cordele, Gordon Keath Eason of Tifton, Toni Hoffman of Cordele, Chetara Horn of Unadilla, Mary Austin Lockhart of Americus, Yakeema Mercer of Americus, Brittaney Peterson of Americus, Tammie Prothro of Leesburg, and Brandi Singletary of Vienna; Air Conditioning Technology, Tommy Bishop of Americus; Business Administrative Technology, Clarissa Bryant of Americus, Wendy Burks of Preston, Earnestine Morgan of DeSoto, Brandi Singletary of Vienna, and Rebecca Thompson of Ideal; Computer Support Specialist, Jessica Lee Arnett of Cordele, Cyndria J. Barron of Montezuma, Justin Brown of Cordele, Constance Cruz of Albany, Rosa M. Davis of Vienna, Jeff Dorsey of Americus, Phillip Flowers of Lauderdale Lakes, FL, Jervonny Jones of Cordele, Jack Moody of Americus, Jordan Smith of Cordele, Tonya L. Solomon of Montezuma, Quintin Volley of Americus, James Eddie West of Warwick and David Wilkerson of Cordele; Criminal Justice Technology, Tamiko Blanks of Americus, Maria I. Alegria of Americus, Ellen Anderson of Americus, Portia Cannon of Americus, Wynonna L. Driver of Dawson, Chelsey Howard of Cordele, Sandra Denise James of Richland, Procethia Jenkins of Lumpkin, Ralonda King of Cordele, James Landis of Americus, Catheren Elizabeth McClintock of Andersonville, Lonnie Mercer of Americus, Kami NeSmith of Americus, Letita Monique Robinson of Ellaville, Valeria Salazar of Plains, Tinichia Story of Montezuma, Carmellia J. Thomas of Americus, and Christi Diane Underwood of Ellaville; Culinary Arts, Matthew Dunn of Leesburg, Nancy Gerlach, Americus, Retundia Hayes, of Gainsville, GA; Joshua Hodnett of Warner Robins;
Drafting, Jeremy Vanzant of Ellaville; Early Childhood Care & Education, Sheila Akandu of Americus, Helen L. Barlow of Americus, Danielle Blankenship of Ellaville, Ashley Monique Brown, of Americus, Lakeisha Dorsey of Americus, Trimeka Holloway, of Americus, La’Saun Hurt of Ellaville, Sheila Denise Muff of Americus, Catherine Shierling of Americus, Kristina Nicole Smith of Americus, Lisa A. Tymes of Buena Vista, Alicia Francine Williams of Buena Vista, Crystal Harvey Woodham of Americus, and Linda Wright of Americus; Electronics Technology, Angela B. Merritt and Joshua L. Palmer of Americus; Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology, Laramie Glenn Broome of Rosefield, MS, Charles Dalton Brunink of Keystone Heights, FL, Joshua Dylan Carnes of Winston, GA, Jonathan Edgar of Deatsville, AL, Samuel King of Bloomington, IL, Matthew McCormick of Knoxille, TN, Ryan Parks of Butler, GA, Austin Smith of Lebanon, TN, Michael Anthony Smith of Maplesville, GA, Brandon Tyler Vickery of Newberry, FL, and Jonathan Woodson of Maben, MS; Marketing Management, Sara Patricia Bledsoe, Americus, LaNette Sherie Brown-Fields of Americus, Hailey T. Glass of Ellaville, Dorothy Maurine Howe of Cordele, Procethia Jenkins of Lumpkin, Inna Leja, Americus, Halwah Muta Ali of Americus, Khiry S. White of Columbus, and Donna C. Whitt of Mauk; Networking Specialist, Jessica Lee Arnett of Cordele, Walter K. Bentley of Ellaville, Justin Brown of Cordele, Jeff Dorsey of Americus, Jervonny Jones of Cordele, James Ferguson of Americus, Jack Moody of Americus, Jordan Smith of Cordele, James Eddie West of Warwick, and David Wilkerson of Cordele and Recreation and Leisure Management, William Tyler Barrett of Americus, William DuBose Krenson of Americus, DuVale W. Page, Jr. of Hinesville, and Kayla Ritchie of Cameron, NC.
Members of the National Technical Honor Society included: Matthew James Benefield, Angela Michelle Britt, Gordon Keath Eason, Jervonny Jones, Virginia W. Moore, Amber Raybon, Dorcas Martinez Reyes, David Wilkerson, Jessica Lee Arnett, Tawana Baisden, Brian Cullen Butler, Rodel Luna David, Lakeisha Dorsey, Dorothy Maurine Howe, Donna Whitt, Ronald B. Gresham, Chetara Horn, Kenneth Martin, Walter Medlin, Randy S. Price, III, Dorothy Wilcher, Julia M. Sims, Jamion Terrell Trice, James Eddie West, Toni Hoffman, William George Mann, Jr., Brian Cullen Butler, Barbara A. Kemp, Virginia Moore, Clarissa Dawn Round, Gerard William DeLellis, Jr., Iala T. Blanco, and Timothy Rigsby.

After each graduate had received their award, Vice President Watford declared to President Reeves that each graduate had completed the requirements for graduation as set forth by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).

Afterwards, Rev. Bill Dupree gave the benediction and the graduates recessed to the music of Pomp and Circumstance performed by Elaine Skipper, pianist.

Graduates and their families were invited to a reception in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center, after the commencement ceremony.