South Georgia Technical College hosts 2016 Fall Commencement ceremony

Jamie Campbell of Americus, a Presidential Honor Graduate, earned an AAS in Accounting. She is shown receiving her diploma from SGTC President Dr. John Watford.

A large crowd attended the SGTC Fall graduation ceremony.

Racarda Blackmon of Americus was presented with his Networking Specialist Associate of Applied Science degree by SGTC President Dr. John Watford.

South Georgia Technical College hosted its 2016 fall commencement ceremony Thursday, December 15th at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters Gymnasium on the Americus campus in front of a capacity crowd.
Approximately 250 students, 30 of which were either Presidential Honor or regular Honor Graduates, received awards of either an associate degree or a diploma during the 2016 fall commencement ceremony. Students must have an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher to qualify as a Presidential honor graduate and a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89 to qualify as an honor graduate. National Technical Honor Society members were also recognized.
Vice President for Academic Affairs David Kuipers presided over the graduation ceremony and introduced Rev. Bill Dupree who gave the invocation. SGTC President Dr. John Watford welcomed graduates and their families and recognized special guests. Ms. Janet Siders, Chair of the SGTC local Board of Directors, introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Andrea Ingram, SGTC 2016 Instructor of the Year who teaches Computer Information Systems for the college.
Ingram challenged graduates to remember that there is a whole world starving for new ideas and innovative leadership; a world full of opportunities and challenges. “South Georgia Technical College adopted a new slogan this academic year, ‘Making it Happen.’ Graduates, tonight is evidence that you have made it happen here at South Georgia Tech. You have earned your degrees and diplomas, but I hope that you will continue to ‘Make it Happen’,” said Ingram.
The 2016 Instructor of the Year then shared some life lessons including the phrase, “as a man thinketh, so is he,” and challenged them to remember that their thoughts create who you are and who you become. She also encouraged the graduates to live in the moment and celebrate victories, and last but not least, she asked them to “know your why” or the purpose or reason that you are doing what you are doing. “Live the best you in the moment and Make it Happen,” concluded Ingram.
After the brief talk by Ingram, South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford and Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers had a special presentation for the family of Jacob Anderson, a High Performance Engines – Motorsports student who lost his life earlier this semester in an automobile accident. His parents were presented with a Motorsports Vehicle Technology diploma in his memory. Joy Anderson, his mother, accepted the diploma on her son’s behalf. Scott Baker, Beth Anderson, Nance Seifert, and Lorraine Smalley were also present.
Following that special presentation, President Watford, David Kuipers, and the SGTC Deans for Academic Affairs, presented the diplomas to the graduates. Sixty-seven students received an Associate of Applied Science degree and 181 unduplicated diplomas were awarded. SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Tammy Brown of Cordele and Jamie Campbell of Americus, Accounting (AAS); Eric Ronald Lane of Andersonville, Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma); Michael Shane Cook of Americus and William Cody Kellogg of Newnan, Aviation Maintenance Technology (Diploma); Ginny L. Brookshire of Cordele, Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist (Diploma); Elizabeth Ann Lumpkin of Coleman, Cosmetology (Diploma); Ramona Williams of Cordele, Criminal Justice Technology (Diploma); Casey Pitts of Americus, Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS); Tia M. Edwards of Cordele, Marketing Management (AAS); and David Thomas of Plains, Welding and Joining Technology (Diploma).
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Benjamin Deven Keller of Ashburn and Calvin Willard of Cordele, Agriculture Technology (AAS); Feng Jie of DeSoto, Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma); Ricardo Rivera of Vienna, Air Conditioning Technology (AAS); John Andrew Pryor of Newnan, Aviation Maintenance Technology (Diploma); Jessica Lundy-Fudge of Vienna, Business Technology (Diploma); Diego Armando Cruz of Vienna Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist (Diploma); Mattie Barrio and Tracey Lynn White of Americus, Cosmetology (Diploma); Horace Hancock of Cordele; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS); Jessica Gutierrez of Oglethorpe, Alma Reyna Perez of Americus, and James Young of Cordele, Culinary Arts (Diploma); Aaron Tyler Stanford of Lenox and James Warren Stroup of Americus, Diesel Technician (Diploma); Vinny Brewer of Warner Robins, Electrical Systems (Diploma); Valerie T. Byron of Cordele, Marketing Management (AAS); Racarda Blackmon of Americus, Networking Specialist (AAS and Diploma); and James Shumate of Leesburg, Welding and Joining Technology (Diploma).
Twenty students also earned the distinction of being a member of the National Technical Honor Society. Listed below are the programs of study and the names of the students who received this distinction: Accounting (AAS), Tina Supers of Cordele; Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma), Feng Jie of DeSoto; Aviation Maintenance Technology (Diploma) Michael Shane Cook of Americus; Business Technology (AAS), Marie Rivera of Vienna and Tina Suppers of Cordele; Business Technology (Diploma), Jessica Lundy-Fudge; Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist (Diploma), Ginny Brookshire of Cordele, Diego Cruz of Vienna, and Christina Evans of Ellaville; Criminal Justice (AAS), Ja’Bria Hutchins of Cordele; Criminal Justice (Diploma) Ramona Williams of Cordele; Culinary Arts (AAS) James Young of Cordele; Early Childhood Care and Education (Diploma); Alyssa King of Americus and Erica Vega of Ashburn; Marketing Management (AAS), Valerie Bryon and Tia Edwards of Cordele, and Jeremy King of Abbeville; Networking Specialist (AAS and Diploma), Racarda Blackmon of Americus; Welding and Joining Technology (Diploma), Cameron Reimer and Cameron Reimer of Leesburg.
Sixty-seven students earned Associate of Applied Science degrees. The programs of study and the students who achieved this honor included: Accounting, Tammy Brown and Tina W. Supers of Cordele, Jamie Campbell of Americus, Juan Rivera of Vienna, and Chiquina Whitsett of Albany; Agricultural Technology, Kevin Tyler Bennett of Summerville, SC; Austin Crook of Smithville, James M. Haynes of Hahira, Matthew Hicks of Toccoa, Benjamin Deven Keller of Ashburn, Caleb Roberson of Butler, Alan Michael Slaughter of Cataula, Brian Strickland of Cairo, David Vazquez-Cruz of Barney, and Calvin Willard of Cordele; Air Conditioning Technology, Douglas T. Jones of Perry and Ricardo Rivera of Vienna; Business Technology, Elijah Foster and Tina W. Supers of Cordele; Jasmine Kearse, Gladys Peavy, and Mary Alice Thomas of Americus, and Marie Rivera of Vienna; Computer Support Specialist, Erin M. Darley of Warwick, Haley Jones of Sylvester, Keith Alexander Mumphery of Cordele, and John Simmons of Cordele; Criminal Justice Technology, Kimberley Barragan of Valdosta, Myeishia Biggins, Walter Dennard, Jr., Bradley Pritchard, and Markell Stone of Americus, Kiley Brady of Pitts, Horace William Hancock and Ja’Bria CeVaughn Hutchins of Cordele; Charmin Rashenna Harvey and Jennifer Lovette of Leslie, Ernest M. Josey of Buena Vista, and Cortez Williamson of Montezuma; Culinary Arts, Percillia Arnett of Americus and James Young of Cordele; Early Childhood Care & Education, Anastasia Octavia Coleman of Austell, Kimberly S. Davis of Oglethorpe, Shambervia Breon Foster of Blakely, Sonia Mechelle Galloway, Norma Hardester Evans, Naquesha Hurley, C’era Danyelle Nathan and Casey Pitts of Americus, Donna Gail Harvey of Cordele, and Andrew Burke Johnson of Union City; Electronics Technology, Quarmane Wilborn of Quitman; Marketing Management, Jacob T. Burchell of McDonough, Valerie T. Byron and Tia M. Edwards of Cordele, and Jeremy King and Christopher Reddick of Americus; Networking Specialist, Racarda Blackmon of Americus, Erin M. Darley of Warwick, Haley Jones of Sylvester, Christopher Lovato of St. Stimmons, and Keith Alexander Mumphery of Cordele; and Recreation and Leisure Management, Brandon Chatman of Thomaston, Deandre Harper of Americus, Angela Tompkins of Orlando, FL, and Amir Warnock of Suwanee.
After each graduate had received their award, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers declared to President Watford 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.