Media release from Georgia Northwestern Technical College:
Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Office of Adult Education held its Spring 2025 Graduation Ceremony on June 26 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.
The evening began with a welcome and introductions by Lisa Shaw, vice president of Adult Education at GNTC.
“I know something important about every single one of you,” Shaw said. “You’ve faced obstacles—some that might have made you question whether finishing was worth it.”
Shaw praised the graduates for continuing to show up instead of quitting, despite setbacks and challenges.
“You have proven something powerful to yourself,” Shaw said. “You are capable. You are resilient, and you are capable of hard work.”
The ceremony’s guest speaker was Noelia Sargento, GNTC’s 2025 EAGLE delegate, the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) 2025 Adult Education Student of the Year and recipient of the Dinah Culbreath Wayne Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Award. Sargento earned her High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma through GNTC’s Adult Education program in June 2024.
“I remember what it was like to finally hold that diploma,” Sargento said. “It wasn’t just a piece of paper. It was proof that I could finish something, proof of what I was capable of and proof that I was not done yet.”
Sargento encouraged the graduates that anything is possible. She said she dropped out of HSE classes twice before she resolved that it was time to believe in herself as she believed in others. Since earing her diploma on her third attempt, she has enrolled in GNTC’s Business Management associate degree program and opened her own business.
“Let this be your beginning and not your end because what you have started is powerful,” she said. “Congratulations, Class of 2025. You’ve already changed your life. Now go out and change the world.”
Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president, reminded graduates that education is not a destination, but a continuous journey.
“Your High School Equivalency is a stepping stone to further opportunities, higher education and realization of your future goals,” Dr. Popham said.
Laurie Brooks, Adult Education Career Services specialist, presented the diplomas to the graduates. Derrick McDaniel, Adult Education Instruction director, recognized Honor graduates.
Shaw led the turning of the tassels and delivered the closing remarks.
Listed are the graduates who participated in the spring 2025 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: Seth Aaron Akers, Azana Ali, Jade Allen, Monica Arrant, Ricardo Arteaga, Nolen Atkinson, Hermila Cristal Barragan, Dee Bates, MaKayla Beasley, Cheyenne Beavers, Nidia Bethancourt, Maryluz Brock, Angelica Brown, Jeremey Bryant, Ialah Buettner, Zoey Burdette, Humberto Josue Cervantes, Claudia Carolina Cervantes Mendez, Josh Clayton, Shane Cline, Gabriel Coker, Stephanie Cordle, Ansleigh Brooke Cox, Allison Culberson, Nichole Davis, Lajuana Deal, Chase Dempsey, Joshua Diaz, Topanga Liberty Dover, Sierra Jean Duncan, Max Bradley Eberhart, Delilah Edwards, Daniel H. Espino Cisneros, Donovan Evans, Tristan Evans, Esbeidi Garcia, Megan Cheyann Garrett, Julie Goicochea, Kristen Faith Goss, Nathan Grissom, Felicia Rose Hardegree, Cassandra Lee Hardin, Zachary Harrington, Anna Marie Haws, Julia Heath, Jaylen Rayne Heeb, Amanda Kelly, Austin Lee, Melinda Lemaster, Amy Lingerfelt, Alexander Lopez, Misael Lopez-Nava, Nathan Levi Massengale, Christian McKee, Trevan McMordie, Kim Ngan Ngo, Russell Nicholson, Emma Anniston Grace Parker, Yaritza Peralta, Alecia Prue, Jesus Ramirez Padilla Jr., Joshua Randolph, Christian Ray, Faith Reed, Connie Romero, Brinlee Runyan, Christine Saunders, David Colt Shelton, Ariel Sisson, Justin Mikael Swafford, Walker Thomas, Camille Tiller, Landon Timms, Maria Daniela Triana, Nathan Wheat, Mandy White and Israel Zamora.
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, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, GNTC Foundation, LaFayette Presbyterian Church, Los Guerreros Mexican Restaurant, 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, Tallatoona Community Action Partnership Inc. and The Crushed Tomato.
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. The program provides preparation for the Georgia HSE tests, Adult Secondary Education, Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language (ESL).
In the photo from GNTC:
Turning of Tassels—Graduates of GNTC’s Adult Education program turn their tassels at the Spring 2025 Graduation Ceremony.
