South Georgia Technical College hosts Fall 2024 commencement ceremony
Nearly 250 individuals earned the right to be recognized at the South Georgia Technical College’s Fall 2024 commencement ceremony Thursday, December 12, at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters gymnasium with an overflow crowd that extended into the John M. Pope Center. This was SGTC’s second graduation ceremony for 2024. Approximately 200 individuals received awards at the Spring graduation.
This is SGTC’s 75th anniversary of its first graduating class and the graduating students are now among the thousands of individuals who have attended SGTC and moved into career fields all over Georgia, the United States, and the entire world. This group has now become part of SGTC’s proud past and promising future.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford (left) is shown above presenting Andrew Nicklaus Daniel, the Aviation Maintenance national SkillsUSA winner, with his Aviation Maintenance Diploma.
SGTC Academic Dean Katrice Martin presented her son, Jakari Blake Brown with his associate of applied science degree in Computer Information Systems Networking Specialist.
Dr. Michele Seay, SGTC 2024 Instructor of the Year from the General Education Department, was the featured speaker at the ceremony. SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs Julie Partain presided over the graduation ceremony. Academic Deans Dr. David Finley and Brett Murray called each graduate’s name and program of study. Rev. Michael Coley of the SGTC Board of Directors gave the Invocation and Jamie Penoncello, Vice Chair of the SGTC Board of Directors, introduced the keynote speaker.
Sixty-nine students earned an Associate of Applied Science degree while another 179 were recognized for earning a diploma in their field of study. Seven students qualified as a Presidential honor graduate which requires an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher and another 11 were spotlighted as an honor graduate with a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89. Eight National Technical Honor Society members were also recognized.
SGTC Instructor of the Year Dr. Michele Seay delivered the keynote address speech at the SGTC Fall 2024 Graduation Ceremony.
In her brief talk to graduates and their family members, Dr. Seay congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and said graduation is a moment of great significance in your lives and the lives of your families. “You dreamed it, you wished it and you did it. Graduates, you have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, and your accomplishments are a testament to your unwavering dedication.
“Congratulations graduates on your remarkable accomplishment. Continue to strive for excellence and push beyond your limits to reach your greatest potential. College has provided you with a solid foundation of knowledge. Always remember knowledge is the power to create a brighter future. This is the beginning of a lifetime to success,” said Dr. Seay.
She encouraged graduates and others in the audience to celebrate accomplishments, move forward and face challenges head-on and remember that “the only way you fail, is to stop striving for excellence. The foundation has been laid so continue building your brand. Now, go forth and create the future you have been dreaming of for so long.”
The SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma) Debra Lewis Merrell of Byromville; Business Technology (AAS) Paula Shaw of Byromville, Business Technology (Diploma) Shemara Lurenda Fields of Vienna; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma) Ja’Ron Monteze Davis of Blakely; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS and Diploma) KaNijah Jy’Kerriah Foster of Americus; Horticulture (Diploma) Ariel Destiny Hudson of Knoxville;and Precision Machining and Manufacturing (Diploma) Jared S. Anderson of Americus.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Business Technology (AAS and Diploma) Yesenya Grace Garcia of Americus; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS),Keyara Lindsey of Montezuma and Jaleciya Zamara Tullis of Americus; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma), Cole Robert White of Leesburg; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS and Diploma), Jamia D. Adair of Cordele; (AAS), Najayla Shermone Williams of Americus; and (Diploma), Ebony Carter of Cordele; Electrical Construction Technology and Electrical Systems Technology (Diploma) Jacob Edward Keith of Butler; Industrial Systems Technology (Diploma) Jacob Larson Cole Newsome of Leesburg; Sports and Fitness Management (AAS and Diploma) Destiny Shantel Armstrong of Warner Robins; and Technical Studies (AAS) Adriana Ann Szuch of Fayetteville, GA.
Eight graduates are also members of the National Technical Honor Society. Those individuals are: Ja’ron Monteze Davis of Blakely, Angel Gauthier of Byromville, Jacob Edward Keith of Butler, Charity Laster of Americus, Mary Katherine Madrid of Leesburg, Debra Monts of Americus, Malcom Denzel Steward of Dawson, and Cole Robert White of Leesburg.
The 69 students who earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in the different program areas included: Accounting, April Michelle King of Leesburg and Debra Ann Monts of Americus; Allied Health Professions, Ashton Singletary Tatum of Americus; Business Technology, Brittany Nicole Brown of Montezuma, Tyvonna Clark of Americus, Javon Latrell Dexter of Warner Robins, Yesenya Grace Garcia of Americus, Dequeta High of Cordele, Jaliyah Nicole Jackson of Americus, Christin Taylor Perry of Pinehurst, Tachina Leyona Redding of Cordele, Paula T. Shaw of Byromville, LaRae Smith of Unadilla, Ja’kell Laquana Smith of Montezuma, Tammie T. Spivey of Cordele, Yulanda Tolbert of Cordele, and Jamia Sharee Tyson of Americus; Computer Support Specialist, Jakari Blake Brown of Pinehurst, Charity Rene’ Laster of Americus, John Thomas Robinson of Ellaville, William Tyler Stone of Americus, Dillon Ray Thorpe of Ellaville, and Haleigh Elizabeth Thorpe of Ellaville; Criminal Justice Technology, Jacob Scott Abell of Leslie, Dasha Kemira Carson of Fort Valley, Christopher Omarion Gilbert of Americus, Alicia Holley of Leesburg, Glynece La’Shae Jones of Montezuma, Angileke Monique King of Americus, MarKayla Alicia Latson of Oglethorpe, Keyara Lindsey of Montezuma, Sonya Shanta Mable of Americus, William Dylan McCarter of BoxSprings, Jacori Marquise Rawls of Ellaville, Alexandria Grace Spain of Perry, Jaleciya Zamara Tullis of Americus and Yasmen Volley of Americus; Culinary Arts, Damon Gabriel Brown of Americus, Brittany Shea Felker of Americus, Danielle Morgan of Cordele, and Anniyah Randall of Byron;
Early Childhood Care & Education, Jamia D. Adair of Cordele, Juanita Dodson of Smithville, KaNijah Jy’Kerriah Foster of Americus, Kandis Michelle Johnson of Americus, Princess King of Ashburn, Hailey Rene Minix of Americus, Dominica Serena Arnett Morgan of Americus, AnniyaTyson of Americus, Najayla Shermone Williams of Americus, and Tawanna Cleshay Williams of Vienna; Electronics Technology, Brenton Shayne Allegood of Ellaville, Chandler Alex Bradfield of Smithville, Quentin Deuntae Edwards of Ellaville, and Tommie Thomas of Americus; Horticulture, Ariel Destiny Hudson of Knoxville, GA; and Mary Katherine Michele Madrid of Leesburg; Marketing Management, Amari Lashawn Tyree Bailey of Americus, Grace Sharon Makenzie Bivins of Ellaville, and Kheandria Danielle Thomas of Americus; Networking Specialist, Kakari Blake Brown of Pinehurst and Daphne Amanda Ergle of Cordele; Sports and Fitness Management, Destiny Armstrong of Warner Robins, Keinoshia Brown of Sumner, and Horace Donyelle Fulks of Americus; Technical Studies, Bradley S. Aldridge of Leesburg, Brandon James Elliott of Senora, Jamie Guined of Cordele, and Adriana Ann Szuch of Fayetteville, GA.
One hundred and seventy-nine students earned diplomas and those students and their programs of study included: Accounting, Takieya Mouniquia Contryman, Hayleigh Jones, April Michelle King; Air Conditioning Technology, Perry Fernandez Burton, II, Brian Keith Eberhart, Jarvis Cornelle Jackson, Debra Lewis Merrell, and Preston Lee Pegues; Aircraft Structural Technology, Desmond Bernard Williams; Automotive Technology, Jaquavius Deshaun Howard, Verniecia Shaniece Johnson, Jaylen Adonis Pasos, Uriah Nathaniel Scott, and Seth Aaron Thomas; Aviation Maintenance Technology, Jaxon LeArmstrong, Andrew Nicklaus Daniel, and Brandon James Elliott; Barbering, Aaron Jehu Gracia, Amirra Shanice Green, Demarrion Tyshon Jones, Sergio Audre Sims, Malcom Denzel Stewart, and Kiley Edna Thaxton; Business Technology, Laquasa Leeann Battle, Brittany Nicole Brown, Tyvonna Clark, Andrew James Cranford, Shemara Lurenda Fields, Yesenya Grace Garcia, Adrian Ny’kia Gaston, Jaliyah Nicole Jackson, Christin Taylor Perry, Ja’kell Laquane Smith, Sara Chastain Wilson, and Jamaine Thomas; Computer Support Specialist, Jakari Blake Brown, Sha’Torri Alexius-Emmyah Brown, Charity Rene’ Laster, John Thomas Robinson, William Tyler Stone, Dillon Ray Thorpe, and Haleigh Elizabeth Thorpe; Cosmetology, Jukarris Anderson, Paris Olivia Biery, Sakeida Brown, Cariesha Clayton, Mikayla Cheyenne Edwards, Leila Frederick, Ashley Nicole Garcia, Kaleria Deanne Glass, Alissa Danielle Harbuck, Valancia Jackson, Chineqia Lasha’ Johnson, Queen A’Shonta Johnson, Jada Shamiece Lewis, Justice Peters, Sumiyah Shynelle Price, Nione Reyes, Billy’sha Sales, Rebecca Simon Thompson, Jemirra West, and Erinana Mone Williams; Criminal Justice Technology, Jacob Scott Abell, Jadon Mikkell Bailey-Edmonds, Dasha Kemira Carson, Alicia Holley, Glynece La’Shae Jones, Angileke Monique King, MarKayla Alicia Latson, Connie Lowry, Sonya Shanta Mable, William Dylan McCarter, Jacori Marquise Rawls, Alexandria Grace Spain; Culinary Arts, Damon Gabriel Brown, Brittany Shea Felker, Ty’keria Alayzia Harvey, Dezmond Ke’Shawn Laster, and Brenda L. Shiloh; Diesel Equipment Technology, Ja’Ron Monteze Davis, Christian Jeremiah Dozier, Joshua Smith, and Cole Robert White; Early Childhood Care and Education, Jamia D. Adair, Gloria Asberry, Sherri Denise Bateman, Elbony Carter, Mary Frances Coley, Alexandra Shampaine Ford, Ka’Nijah Jy’Kerriah Foster, Lashade Granville, Shanariya Tanayja Harris, Kandis Michelle Johnson, Jakeria Johnson, Kristin Nicole Keen, Monica Latoya Mccants, Dominica Serena Arnett Morgan, Oceaunna Polk, Alexis Smith, and Corinthia Shanay Young; Electrical Construction Technology, Jayden Carroll Bledsoe, Amya Oriana Castleberry, Michael Ricardo Hernandez-Mendez, Jacob Edward Keith, and Dy’Asiah Kimbreyee McCoy; Electrical Systems Technology, Jayden Carroll Bledsoe, Amya Orianna Castleberry, Michael Ricardo Hernandez-Mendez, Jacob Edward Keith, and Dy’Asiah Kimbreyee McCoy; Electronics Technology, Brenton Shayne Allegood, Chandler Alex Bradfield, and Quentin Deuntae Edwards; Horticulture, Ariel Destiny Hudson and Mary Katherine Michele Madrid; Industrial Systems Technology, Larson Cole Newsome; Marketing Management, Grace Sharon Makenzie Bivins, Tyona Katrell Royal and Kheandria Danielle Thomas; Medical Assisting, Demecia Allen, Toni Marie Daniels, Angel Amiara Jeanette Gauthier, Jasmine Jnes, Brittany Nicole Morgan, and Vanessa Faye Williamson; Motorsports Vehicle Technology,
Karl Edwin Wiggins, III; Networking Specialist, Jakari Blake Brown and Daphne Amanda Ergle;
Practical Nursing, Jareca Disha Searcy, Kendra Areanna Singleton, Keisha Rochelle Swanson, Chrishanda Vail, Ashley Walker, Nikitta Dannell Walters, Brittany Monique White, Tyeesha Lashay Woods; Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Jared S. Anderson, Blake William Archer, Ashton Wayne Denning, Alec Durand Hobbs, Mic’quvious Powell, and Robert Rodriquez Wright; Sports and Fitness Management,Destiny Armstrong, Araham G. Ball, and Keinosia Brown, and Welding and Joining Technology, Zebian Umari Dassau, Cordaro Erasmus Derison, Gerardo Nino-Castro, Jamie Cole Rowland, Anna Marie Saint, and Jayden Isaiah Slaughter.
Photos from the graduation ceremony can be found on the South Georgia Technical College website: www.southgatech.edu in the photo gallery section and on the college’s Facebook page.
The SGTC gymnasium was full for the Fall 2024 graduation ceremony.