GNTC holds Adult Education Graduation Ceremony

June 28, 2024

Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Office of Adult Education held its Spring 2024 Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, June 27, for students who have earned their High School Equivalency diplomas.

The ceremony was held at the Conference Center on GNTC’s Gordon County Campus in Calhoun to accommodate students and families from all nine counties of GNTC’s service area.

A special recognition reception was held prior to the ceremony for graduates who were honor students, completed the Training on the Go program or went through Math Boot Camp.

The evening began with a welcome and introductions by Lisa Shaw, vice president of Adult Education at GNTC, followed by opening remarks by Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president.

“In this room I see not just graduates, but individuals who have overcome unique challenges demonstrating tenacity and unyielding spirit,” said Popham. “Life has a habit of presenting us with unexpected challenges, but you chose to not be defined by those obstacles. Instead you chose the path of education, personal growth and success.”

Ana Lopez (left) and her husband Juan Lopez completed their High School Equivalency and graduated together during GNTC’s Spring 2024 Adult Education Graduation Ceremony.
Ana Lopez (left) and her husband Juan Lopez completed their High School Equivalency and graduated together during GNTC’s Spring 2024 Adult Education Graduation Ceremony.

Deanna Hulsey, instructor of Cosmetology at GNTC and the college’s Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) 2024 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, was the ceremony’s guest speaker.

“In 2018 I accepted a position teaching Cosmetology full-time on this campus,” said Hulsey. “It was a full circle moment. It was on this very campus that I took my GED® test and wondered if I would ever be successful. This part of your story will always be a pivotal moment.”

Hulsey was also named the First Runner-Up for the TCSG 2024 Instructor of the Year.

Laurie Brooks, Career Services specialist, presented the diplomas to the graduates.

Listed are the graduates who participated in the Spring 2024 Adult Education Graduation Ceremony. This list does not include students that have graduated, but did not participate in the ceremony, or students that registered for the ceremony after the commencement program was printed: Brianna Nicole Allen, Dacen Barger, Matthew Bates, Marquita Danielle Booth, Shealynn Boyer, Aliyah Braziel, Kaitlyn Buffington, Kaitlyn Capps, Dalton Case, Jessica Elaine Casey, Gerrette Champion, Laura Chavez, Aden Cox, Tramorius L. Dean, Miley Doblado, Ethan Mark Duquette, Aiesha J. Fitch, Latasha Fluker, Elizabeth Foldes, Harold Joseph Fontanille Jr., Kristy Ann Fulton, Peyton Gal, Victoria Garay-Trejo, Jakob Garmon, Anna Ruth Gonzales, Kathryn G. Griffin, Gavin Hamilton, Lindsey Hayes, Greenlee Holcombe, Shanta Hudson, Chloe Elizabeth Johnson, Mike Johnston, Kayley Kelley, Alexandria Gayle Knowles, Cristobal Luis Lima, Ana Maribel Lopez, Juan Enrique Lopez, Miguel Lopez Jr., Rosalva Lopez Pascual, Garrison Martin, Parker Maxell, Rosa McDaniel, Isaac McDonald, Haley Meadows, Maria Mendoza, Catherine Mira-Hernandez, Katelin Lee Mooney, Sasha Jean Moore, Emily Morrison, Elizabeth Nichols, Jessica Peek, Beatriz Perez, Sabine Puma, Rylee Quarles, Ashlee Reed, Jaylin Reyes, Nancy Rovene Ridley, James Riley, Lilly Anne Roberson, Victor Manuel Nava Rojas, Angel Santillan, Noelia Sargento, William Schanley, Brea Ana-Noel Stevens, Tyler Suttles, Yasmin Torres, Katelyn Walker, Ashley Nicole Weaver, Carmen Webb and Marium Williams.

Derrick McDaniel, Adult Education instructional coordinator, and Sandra Russell, Adult Education instructor, recognized Honor graduates and scholarship recipients.

The Adult Education program acknowledged the following organizations who provided scholarships: Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Society, Catoosa Citizens for Literacy, Chattooga County Literacy Council, Conasauga Drug Court Program, Dalton-Whitfield Community Foundation, Dalton Rotary Club, LaFayette Presbyterian Church, North Georgia Electric Membership Corp., Polk County Council, Polk County Rotary Club, Rome-Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth, Rome Rotary Club, Shaw Industries and Tallatoona Community Action Partnership Inc.

GNTC is an official General Educational Development® Testing Center and a site for computer-based GED® Testing in partnership with Pearson Vue, GED® Testing Services, and the Technical College System of Georgia. The mission of GNTC’s Adult Education program is to enable every adult learner in the service delivery area to acquire the necessary basic skills to be able to compete successfully in today’s workplace, strengthen family foundations and exercise full citizenship.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 12,241 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,031 students and an additional enrollment of 4,210 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, as set forth in its student catalog, GNTC complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed or religion, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital status or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). Equity Coordinator, Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator: Brittany Elrod.