South Georgia Technical College hosts 2017 Spring Commencement ceremony

South Georgia Technical College hosted its 2017 spring commencement ceremony Tuesday, May 9th, 2017 at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters Gymnasium on the Americus campus in front of a capacity crowd.
Approximately 200 students, 38 of which were either Presidential Honor or regular Honor Graduates, received awards of either an associate degree or a diploma during the 2017 Spring 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. Fifteen 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, Christopher McGhee of Cordele, SGTC 2017 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) student who is majoring in Marketing Management.
McGhee shared with graduates his philosophy that “life doesn’t always work out as we plan, but it always works out the way God knows is best for us.” He also explained that success is different things to different people but that the definition of success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Then he congratulated the graduates for attaining one measure of success by earning the right to participate in the South Georgia Tech 2017 Spring graduation ceremony.
McGhee outlined thoughts on the four keys to achieving success as part of his keynote address. “First set goals, both realistic and unrealistic. Hold yourself accountable for those goals. Second, be conscious of the goals you set and the decisions you make to achieve them. Third, create a powerful belief system. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. And lastly, invest in yourself. Do something just for yourself,” said McGhee. Then he closed by wishing the Class of 2017, continued success.
After the brief talk by McGhee, South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford and Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers and the SGTC Deans for Academic Affairs, presented the diplomas to the graduates. Seventy-three students received an Associate of Applied Science degree and 85 unduplicated diplomas were awarded. SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Benjamin Adams of Albany, Industrial Systems Technology (Diploma); Justin Barrera of Leesburg, Electronics Technology (Diploma); Tonya Barrett of Ellaville, Computer Support Specialist (AAS and Diploma); Jordan Bates of Apopka, FL, Recreation and Leisure Management (AAS); Angelia S. Craig of Cordele, Drafting (AAS); Judashia Eley of Americus, Criminal Justice Technology (AAS); Dustin Gate Greene of Griffin and Cody M. Moore of Telford, TN, Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology, (AAS); Linda Kent of Montezuma, Brennan Morris of Americus, and Felicia Michelle Young of Vienna, Culinary Arts (Diploma); Mercedes Cruz Martinez of Cobb, Early Childhood Care and Education; Dorris William Persall, III of Cordele, Business Technology (AAS & Diploma); and Leah Windham of Oglethorpe, Marketing Management (AAS).
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Shelby Arnett of Cordele, Mortorsports Vehicle Technology (Diploma); Racarda Blackmon, Jr. of Americus, Computer Support Specialist (AAS & Diploma); Priscilla Bridges of Preston, and Nichelle Martinez of and Sara Martinez of Cobb, Early Childhood Care and Education (Diploma); Valerie Teresa Byron of Cordele, Business Technology (AAS & Diploma); Joshua Andrew Chappell of Cordele, and Allysa Moneta Ridley of Ashburn, Culinary Arts (Diploma); Dalton Cline of Columbus, Electrical Systems Technology (Diploma); Donna Cook of Alma and Nicole D. Turner of Vienna, Accounting (AAS); Christian B. Edwards of Haleyville, AL, John Garrett Evans of Lexington, SC, Daniel Horton of Columbiana, AL, Timothy Mason Hudgins of Dixons Mills, AL; and Jesse G. Overton of Haleyville, AL, Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology (AAS); Christina Evans of Ellaville, Computer Support Specialist (Diploma); Mary J. Grizzle of Andersonville, Accounting (Diploma); Rhonnecia Hamilton of Warwick, Early childhood Care and Education (AAS); Raymond Lawrence Latham of Andersonville, Automotive Technology (Diploma); David Justin Moore of Butler, Computer Support Specialist (AAS & Diploma) and Networking Specialist (AAS & Diploma); Jordan Purdy Smith of Cordele, Marketing Management (Diploma); and Matthew Paul Tyler of Americus, Machine Tool Technology (Diploma).
Fifteen students also earned the distinction of being a member of the National Technical Honor Society. Listed below are the names of the students who received this distinction and their programs of study: Tonya Barrett of Ellaville, Racarda Blackmon, Jr., of Americus, Computer Support Specialist (AAS & Diploma); Valerie Teresa Byron of Cordele and Dorris William Persall, III of Cordele, Business Technology (AAS & Diploma); Harvetta Cason of Americus and Amber Chancellor of Ellaville, Medical Assisting (Diploma); Joshua Andrew Chappell of Cordele, Culinary Arts (Diploma); Donna Cook of Alma, Accounting (AAS); Rachel L. Deuel of Unadilla, Culinary Arts (AAS); Christina Evans of Ellaville, Computer Support Specialist (Diploma); Dustin Gage Greene of Griffin, Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology (AAS); Rhonnecia Hamilton of Warwick, Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS); Linda Kent of Montezuma, Culinary Arts (Diploma); David Justin Moore of Butler, Computer Support Specialist (AAS & Diploma) and Networking Specialist (AAS & Diploma); Dorris William Persall, III of Cordele (Business Technology (AAS & Diploma) and Leah Windham of Oglethorpe, Marketing Management (AAS).
Seventy-three students earned Associate of Applied Science degrees. The programs of study and the students who achieved this honor included: Accounting, Karen M. Adams of Ellaville, Donna Cook of Alma, and Nicole D. Turner of Vienna; Agricultural Technology, Joshua Forrest of Old Town, FL; Business Technology, Lacy Bailey and Tara Leigh Schofield of Ellaville, Valerie Teresa Byron and Dorris William Persall, III of Cordele, and Samuel Cornelius Greene and Shannon Steward of Americus; Computer Support Specialist, Tonya Barrett of Ellaville, Racarda Blackmon, Jr., and Devonte’ Jaquiaz Carter of Americus, Travon J. Ford of Cordele, Brantley Malloy Kennedy of Leesburg, and David Justin Moore of Butler; Criminal Justice Technology, Austin D. Blankenship and Crystal Michelle Tyrer of Preston, Farla Ko’Shunda Butler, Judashia Eley, and Shermel McCluster of Americus, Latoya McCants of Oglethorpe, Dravion Markeith McGill, Jr., and Crystal Michelle Tyrer of Preston; Culinary Arts, Lorenzo Covin and Sharon Renee Williams of Americus, and Rachel L. Deuel of Unadilla; Drafting, Angelia S. Craig of Cordele; Early Childhood Care & Education, Selena Nicole Ford of Cobb, Rhonnecia Hamilton of Warwick, Janiyah Tierra Johnson of Stockbridge, Kyler Trenea Phelps of Montezuma, Brittany Elina Sanders of Columbus, and Nikkolis J. Walters of Americus; Horticulture, Marvin Eugene Smith of Oglethorpe; Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology, Jacob Charles Ansley of French Camp, MS, Wade R. Chesney of Madison, MS, Alexander Manuel Eason of Goodwater, AL, Christian B. Edwards of Haleyville, AL, John Garrett Evans of Lexington, SC, Dustin Gage Greene of Griffin, Heath Helton of Maynardville, TN, Daniel Horton of Columbiana, AL, Timothy Mason Hudgins of Dixons Mills, AL, Troy Levi Jandura of Tybee Island, GA, Benjamin J. Looker of Arlington, TN, Owen Michehl of Sugartree, TN, Cody M. More of Telford, TN, Nicholas Overstreet, Vancleave, MS, Jesse G. Overton, Haleyville, AL; Austin Railsback, Umatilla, FL, Jacob C. Seal, Sneedville, GA, Alan Fergus Stewart, III of Dawson, and Jacob Benjamin Thompson of Buchanan; Marketing Management, Correll DeAndre’ Dowdell and Alexandra Gabriela Lemus Lopez of Americus, Morgan Polite of Brunswick, and Leah Windham of Oglethorpe; Networking Specialist, Devonte’ Jaquiaz Carter of Americus, Travon J. Ford of Cordele, Brantley Malloy Kennedy of Leesburg, and David Justin Moore of Butler; Recreation and Leisure Management, Jordan Bates of Apopka, FL, Madison Noelle Cameron of Americus, Davion Clark, Buford, Camille Coleman, South Bend, IN, Desire Simon Corbin of Griffin, Shaineequah Monique Fluellyn of Molena, GA, Bobby Jackson of Sandersonville, GA, Edward Jones of Fairburn, GA, Andre’ Kennedy of Albany, GA, Tre’Von Montrell Ritchie Teague of Concinnati, OH; Derrick Trawick, Jr. of Macon, and Patrick Welch of Manchester, NH.
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.

Christopher McGhee of Cordele, South Georgia Tech’s 2017 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner, was the keynote speaker at the SGTC 2017 Spring graduation.

A large crowd attended the SGTC Spring graduation ceremony.

Latoya McCants is a 2017 graduate from the Criminal Justice Technology program and she is shown above with her family and friends that came out to support her for graduation from South Georgia Technical College.

SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown presenting Russell Johnson of Americus with a diploma in Criminal Justice Technology.

SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown above presenting Racarda Blackmon, Jr. of Americus with his associate of applied science degree in Computer Support Specialist program. He earned his Networking Specialist associate degree in December.