South Georgia Technical College holds summer GED graduation ceremony

June 13, 2018
South Georgia Tech GED Graduation Officials - Shown above (l to r) are South Georgia Technical College Foundation Trustee and State Board of Education member Mike Cheokas, SGTC Board of Director Jake Everett, Rev. Mike Truitt, SGTC Board member Janet Siders, State Representative Bill McGowan, South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Administrative Services Lea Coe, Academic Dean for Adult Education Lillie Ann Winn, SGTC President Dr. John Watford, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers, SGTC Vice President Student Affairs and Institutional Support Karen Werling, Chamber of Commerce Board member and SGTC Director of Business Services Paul Farr, and SGTC Vice President of Economic Development Wally Summers.
South Georgia Tech GED Graduation Officials - Shown above (l to r) are South Georgia Technical College Foundation Trustee and State Board of Education member Mike Cheokas, SGTC Board of Director Jake Everett, Rev. Mike Truitt, SGTC Board member Janet Siders, State Representative Bill McGowan, South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Administrative Services Lea Coe, Academic Dean for Adult Education Lillie Ann Winn, SGTC President Dr. John Watford, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers, SGTC Vice President Student Affairs and Institutional Support Karen Werling, Chamber of Commerce Board member and SGTC Director of Business Services Paul Farr, and SGTC Vice President of Economic Development Wally Summers.

South Georgia Technical College held its 2018 Summer General Educational Development Diploma (GED) Graduation ceremony in the James S. Peters gymnasium on the SGTC Americus campus recently.

State Representative Bill McGowan was the guest speaker at the ceremony where 43 students from Sumter, Crisp, Schley, Macon, Marion, Taylor and Webster counties received their general equivalency diplomas. Sumter County GED graduate Alanna Yawn was presented with the Americus and Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Platinum Trustee Scholarship worth $1000 by Chamber Board member Paul Farr to help her continue her education. She had the highest cumulative score the GED exams.

South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford welcomed the graduates, faculty members, family and friends who came to the James S. Peters gymnasium for the ceremony. He also congratulated the graduates on their achievements and told them that graduations were one of the most favorite parts of his job as President. “You are an inspiration to everyone here tonight. You have inspired your family, your teachers, and your friends and I also hope that you inspired yourselves, because you have accomplished something that you felt that you needed to do. Educationally, you can do anything you set your mind to, now that you have earned this GED. It may take more time and effort but you have just surpassed the first and most important hurdle of your educational career,” said President Watford.

He also encouraged graduates to continue their educational journey and reminded them that South Georgia Technical College has over 200 different programs available to help them secure a career. He also talked with the GED graduates about the $500 tuition voucher that they receive from the Technical College System of Georgia to continue their education and pointed out that if the graduates or their friends and family members fill out an application after graduation, South Georgia Tech will waive the application fee.

“This is an exciting day for many of you here tonight,” said Watford. “Don’t worry if you don’t have everything figured out right now. But you have momentum because you have completed your GED and if you will take advantage of that momentum and continue your education, you will figure the rest out as you continue that educational journey.”

Rev. Mike Truitt delivered the invocation at the ceremony. Lisa Truitt provided the piano selections including the traditional processional and music for the graduates. Lillie Ann Winn, Dean of Adult Education at SGTC, introduced State Representative Bill McGowan as the guest speaker.

McGowan also congratulated each of the graduates on achieving their GED and told them that life is like a bicycle ride. “Sometimes you are going up hill and need to change gears, sometimes you are doing downhill at a rapid pace and need to put on brakes. And sometimes, just like life, you are on an even surface and everything runs pretty smoothly. Tonight you have reached level ground and all is going well. Be proud of where you are today and what you have accomplished.

“Believe in yourselves and your abilities. Remember those teachers, friends, and family members who have encouraged, supported and helped you to get to this stage of your life. Now I am asking you to encourage, support, and help someone else so that they can begin to accomplish their dreams,” said McGowan.

The state representative also shared some old sayings with the graduates and told them that many of them are applicable today. “You have probably heard these before. ‘Hard work pays off and when you are angry, count to 10 and listen, and be honest in your dealings with others.’ Those are good sayings that will help you become successful. Again, congratulations and even if success does not come as quickly as you would like, remember don’t be discouraged. Be positive and wait.”

After Bill McGowan’s talk, President Watford, SGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers and Dean of Adult Education Winn recognized the graduates and presented them with their diplomas.

The Americus Rotary Club was the premiere sponsor of the SGTC GED Graduation ceremony and special thanks were extended to those individuals and organizations who helped provide GED scholarships including: Ruth Jones/Girls Educating with Donations Scholarships; Cordele Housing Authority, Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce, Flint Energies, and the South Georgia Technical College Foundation.

Listed below are the GED graduates from the individual counties who earned the right to participate in the ceremony:

Sumter County
Amanda Chavez, Daniel Cornejo, Neal Daniels, Dylan Davis, Hannah Gleaton, Lydia Goins, Christopher Goodyear, Jesus Guerra, Victoriano Guerra, Miranda Harkins, Erika Hernandez, Julia Mason, Adrian Mast, Michael Micallef, Lidia Montoya, Megan Ogden, Messiah Plaza, Aaron Powell, John Prather, Travoris Prince, Yolanda Robinson, and Alanna Yawn;

Crisp County
Caleb Black, Robert Bolton, Morris Brandenburg, Barbara Burts, Timia Daniel, Rodney Davis, Latesha Eady, Brittany Fillmore, Hailey Harris, William Hitson, Jonathan Nipper, Kristyn Tomberlin, and Caitlin Wilkinson;

Marion County
Cristopher Cooper;

Macon County
Ampara Aguirre and Heather Hinton;

Schley County
Blade Lloyd, Madison Scholfield, and Kevin Turknett;

Taylor County
Jacob Seth Jones;

Webster County
Maribel Tzoyohua

Lillie Ann Winn is the South Georgia Technical College PA for Adult Education for SDA 15, Lisa Jordan is the Adult Education Administrative Assistant, Lisa Truitt is the GED Chief Examiner and Kenia Wills is a GED Examiner. The South Georgia Tech Adult Education instructors include: John Bagwell, Cindy Bagwell, Carlene Beckwith, Lissa Faircloth, Alanna Goolsby, Carla Hayes, Angie Kauffman, Mary King, Leslie Rye, Timetrice Thomas, Tonya Visage and Virginia Wilson. Tracy Israel is the Adult Education Transition Specialist

For more information about the Adult Education and GED classes, contact South Georgia Tech at 229.931.2565.

State Representative Bill McGowan is shown above with one of the GED graduates. Representative McGowan was the guest speaker.

State Representative Bill McGowan is shown above with one of the GED graduates. Representative McGowan was the guest speaker.

Shown above with SGTC officials are the Adult Education faculty and staff. Shown (l to r) are SGTC Adult Education Instructors John Bagwell, Virginia Wilson, Tonya Visage, Mark King, Leslie Rye, Alanna Goolsby, Kenia Wills, SGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers, SGC Academic Dean for Adult Education Lillie Ann Winn, SGTC President Dr. John Watford, SGTC Board member Janet Siders, Adult Education Administrative Assistant Lisa Jordan, Instructors Angie Kauffman and Carlene Beckwith, Transition Specialist Tracy Israel, Chief GED Examiner Lisa Truitt, Rev. Mike Truitt, and SGTC Director of Business Services Paul Farr.

Shown above with SGTC officials are the Adult Education faculty and staff. Shown (l to r) are SGTC Adult Education Instructors John Bagwell, Virginia Wilson, Tonya Visage, Mark King, Leslie Rye, Alanna Goolsby, Kenia Wills, SGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers, SGC Academic Dean for Adult Education Lillie Ann Winn, SGTC President Dr. John Watford, SGTC Board member Janet Siders, Adult Education Administrative Assistant Lisa Jordan, Instructors Angie Kauffman and Lissa Faircloth, Transition Specialist Tracy Israel, Chief GED Examiner Lisa Truitt, Rev. Mike Truitt, and SGTC Director of Business Services Paul Farr.