GNTC students Tiacola Tolbert and Juan Sosa ready to receive their diplomas
GNTC students turn tassels
IEC Apprentice graduates
Addison Elizabeth McCray, radiologic technology
Melissa Valdez, medical assisting
Close to 300 Georgia Northwestern Technical College students crossed the stage of the Dalton Convention Center on Thursday to the cheers of their families, friends and instructors.
GNTC held two separate Commencement Ceremonies in order to practice social distancing guidelines and accommodate friends and families of the graduates.
A ceremony was held at 12 p.m. to recognize students in GNTC’s Business and Health programs and the second ceremony held at 4 p.m. recognized the students in GNTC’s Aviation, Industrial and Public Service programs.
At both ceremonies, Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC, welcomed guests, congratulated the graduates and introduced Jeremiah Cooper, GNTC’s 2021 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, as the keynote commencement speaker.
“After hosting three drive-thru ceremonies, we are thrilled to be hosting a graduation ceremony again indoors,” said Dr. Popham as she welcomed the graduates and guests.
Mr. Cooper has been an instructor at GNTC since 2013. He is the program director and instructor of Welding and Joining Technology on the Walker County Campus. This is his second time serving as GNTC’s Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year.
“Don’t forget the people who helped you get here today,” said Mr. Cooper during the commencement address. “Be that same individual for somebody else. We are all here today because somebody took time out of their lives to invest in us, invest in somebody else, somebody helped you get here today, help somebody else get here tomorrow.”
Stuart Phillips, vice president of Student Affairs at GNTC, recognized High Honor graduates with a 4.0 grade point average and Honor graduates with a 3.5 to 3.99 grade point average. Phillips also led a special recognition for graduates that are veterans, apprentices, Phi Beta Lambda members, SkillsUSA members, Student Government Association members, first generation college students and dual enrollment high school students.
Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, vice president of Academic Affairs at GNTC, presented the graduates and Dr. Heidi Popham conferred the graduates with associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.
The ceremonies concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Popham in which she challenged the graduates, “do not let this be the end of your educational journey, never stop learning.”
A special post-ceremony recognition was held by the Georgia Chapter Independent Electrical Contractors as they commemorated the GNTC Fox Systems, Inc. IEC Electrical Apprenticeship graduating class of 2021.
GNTC Fox Systems Inc. IEC Apprenticeship graduates included Wesley Cook, Noah Thomas Dutton, Caleb Edwards, Michael Gordon, William Curry Jennings, Brandon Michael McBee, Marvin George McDougle III, Tyler Philip Robbins, Miguel Angel Sanchez and John F. Tate. (not all apprenticeship graduates participated in the GNTC Commencement Ceremony)
In addition to four years of instruction, each GNTC Fox Systems Inc. IEC Apprenticeship graduate attended a minimum of 576 hours of classroom and lab instruction and completed a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
Listed are graduates which participated in the 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremonies showing (from left to right) the graduate’s name and program of study. 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:
12 p.m. Ceremony
Associate of Applied Science
Dalynn Nicole Adkins, Vascular
Rosa I. Aguilar, Accounting
Melissa Nicole Ahrent, Health Information Management Technology
Ally Smith Alred, Adult Echocardiography
Carlotita Arellano, Adult Echocardiography
Adolfo T. Arroliga, Computer Support Specialist
Harry Thomas Austin, Business Management
Ivan Avalos, Business Management
Gidget Baine, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Stacy Lynn Baker, Business Technology
Jennifer E. Baldwin, Accounting
Bethany G. Barton, Medical Assisting
Reanna Mae Bearden, Radiologic Technology
Savana L. Beldowski, Business Healthcare Technology
Laura Katelyn Boatwright, Adult Echocardiography
Kelsey M. Bollen, Radiologic Technology
Debbie Lynn Bryant, Diagnostic Medical Sonography
James N. Bryant, Cybersecurity
Hildred Michelle Bush, Surgical Technology
Tara Quinn Butler, Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Daniel Lee Carroll, Radiologic Technology
Jaime Casillas Gil, Accounting
Joseph Pattana Chase, Cybersecurity
Stephanie Cisneros, Adult Echocardiography
Anna Robinson Cochran, Accounting
Krysta Coker, Radiologic Technology
Caitlin M. Crete, Paramedicine
Olibia Cruz, Vascular
Eric Douglas Davenport, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Grant W. Davis, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Heather Doperalski, Accounting
Sara L. Duke, Medical Assisting
Matthew J. Ellis, Health Information Management Technology
Kristen JoAnna Ely, Accounting
Gregory Walter Fish, Business Management
Emilee Hope Frady, Business Management
Kelsey Nicole Garner, Adult Echocardiography
Marielle A. Genter, Surgical Technology
Mallory Ellen Girod, Vascular
Jose Emanuel Gonzalez, Marketing Management
Amber Grant, Business Management
Taylor Alexis Grant, Medical Assisting
Maira Guzman, Surgical Technology
Kari Anne Hamby, Business Healthcare Technology
Jaweah L. Hamilton, Business Management
Jessica Nicole Hammock, Accounting
Julie Ann Hanson, Adult Echocardiography
Ileana Melissa Hidalgo, Business Management
Stacey Shrum Holifield, Business Management
Kelsey Ashea Holt, Adult Echocardiography
Lacey A. Jackson, Health Information Management Technology
Aletha R. Johnson, Computer Support Specialist
Willanda D. Johnson, Accounting
Kasey Jones, Medical Assisting
Danielle Joyner, Health Information Management Technology
Jacob Seth Keeton, Business Management
Stephanie Fumi Kuhrt, Marketing Management
Christian S. Langford, Radiologic Technology
Lauren K. Lindsey, Business Management
Dania Lopez, Health Information Management Technology
Diana C. Madero Hernandez, Accounting
Kolby M. Marsh, Networking Specialist
Magali Martinez Jarquin, Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Matt L. Matteson, Networking Specialist
Haley L. McCown, Surgical Technology
Addison Elizabeth McCray, Radiologic Technology
Karen E. McCurdy, Health Information Management Technology
Jason W. McMullin, Business Management
Michelle Mendonca, Business Management
Lorena Mendoza, Health Information Management Technology
Stephanie Miles, Radiologic Technology
Ashley Brooke Mullins, Business Management
Viviana Nevarez, Radiologic Technology
Angel Nicholson, Business Management
Ulises Nunez, Accounting
Jaqueline Nunez-Cruz, Radiologic Technology
Joshua Ortiz, Radiologic Technology
Jessica B. Osborn, Business Management
Kira Gayle Osborne, Medical Assisting
Agnes M. Painto, Business Management
Ashley Paramo-Carmona, Medical Assisting
Dhruti Bharatkum Patel, Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Caterra S. Pullen, Business Management
Vanessa M. Raminger, Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Crysta Michelle Reed, Medical Assisting
Yesenia Rodriguez, Vascular
Desirae Marie Rogers, Business Management
Elsa Marleny Sales, Vascular
Hannah Grace Smith, Health Information Management Technology
Jordan B. Smith, Surgical Technology
Jessica Stanley, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Jennifer L. Still, Marketing Management
Estefania Toledo Pantoja, Adult Echocardiography
Ariel N. Tucker, Radiologic Technology
Krishauna Turner, Business Healthcare Technology
Melissa Valdez, Medical Assisting
Esther Maria Vera Sampedro, Vascular
Amber G. Wade, Accounting
Charles Kent Walsh, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Maia White, Business Management
Christil M. Williams, Business Technology
Lisa Winston, Business Management
Brandie M. Wooten, Accounting
Shannon York, Health Information Management Technology
Arely Sinai Zendejas, Business Healthcare Technology
Diploma
Maria Fernanda Arroyo, Human Lactation
Lacy N. Bailey, EMS Professions
Heather Marie Ballinger, Human Lactation
Makayla D. Barrett, Health Information Coding
Michelle Lee Barthlow, Business Management
Leah McCallie Bing, Dental Assisting
Brooklyn M. Bryant, Medical Assisting
Jordan Mckenzie Crider, Business Management
Miranda S. DelRosario, Practical Nursing
Carrie L. Dorsey, Surgical Technology
Ashley Danielle Faulkner, Medical Assisting
Evelyn Ruby Fraire, Medical Assisting
Jazmyn Gamble, Business Healthcare Technology
Nidia Gamez, Dental Assisting
Savannah Faye Hall, Business Technology
Adriana Hernandez-Reyes, Medical Assisting
Leah M. Holloway, Medical Assisting
Adan Lara Jimenez, Dental Assisting
Jeffery A. LeClaire, Paramedicine
Jesenia Lopez-Flores, Web Site Design/Development
Sydney Matthews, Human Lactation
Heather Brooke Moore, Surgical Technology
Maria D. Nunez Reyes, Medical Assisting
Maria Beatriz Orozco, Business Management
Brisa Resendiz Munoz, Dental Assisting
Maria Z. Reveral, Practical Nursing
Laci D. Reynolds, Medical Assisting
Tajion Richardson, Medical Assisting
Toni Lynn Sanders, Business Management
Denisse A. Sarmiento, Surgical Technology
Stephen Seals, Paramedicine
Darsey Carolann Shields, Dental Assisting
Gisselle G. Silva, Human Lactation
Heather Michelle Thompson, Medical Assisting
Rhiana Nicole Wayland, Surgical Technology
Italia C. Whaley, Medical Assisting
Technical Certificate of Credit
Tashina Lichelle Cagle, Phlebotomy Technician
Ricardo J. Cruz, Human Resource Management Specialist
Christie Lee Eldridge, Phlebotomy Technician
Paola Fraire Morales, Phlebotomy Technician
Brandy T. Gribble, Health Care Science
Bethany Diane Griffith, Medical Front Office Assistant
Rebekah Elaine Howard, Phlebotomy Technician
Christina B. Human, Medical Coding
Koby Taylor Legg, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
Laranda Renee Mabry, Medical Front Office Assistant
Elizabeth Mariquez, Human Resource Management Specialist
Jesus D. Martinez, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
Tina Marie Martinez, Phlebotomy Technician
Renae DeAnn Massey, Phlebotomy Technician
Yulma Phillips, Medical Coding
Alexis Hope Pothen, Medical Front Office Assistant
Amber D. Spires, Administrative Support Assistant
Samantha Tabares, Logistics and Supply Chain Technician
Amanda Leigh Thaxton, Phlebotomy Technician
Natalie Paige Turner, Phlebotomy Technician
Litzi Vail-Lopez, Phlebotomy Technician
Jaquelin Villafuerte, Medical Front Office Assistant
Maria Alondra Villalobos, Human Resource Management Specialist
Simone Sade Washington, Human Resource Management Specialist
Natosha Ann Weaver, Medical Front Office Assistant
4 p.m. Ceremony
Associate of Applied Science
Gustavo Acevedo Cruz, Construction Management
David Alexander Adsit, Construction Management
Jennifer Michelle Bailey, Social Work Assistant
Cory Jackson Clark, Instrumentation and Controls Technician
Holly Clark, Culinary Arts
Alexis J. Contreras Hurtado, Automation Engineering Technology
Amy Elizabeth Crawford, Horticulture
Jordan A. DeSalvo, Industrial Systems Technology
Matthew Caswell Dunn, Automation Engineering Technology
Kaitlyn Brook Epperson, Early Childhood Care and Education
Randall Arthur Franklin, Industrial Systems Technology
Hannah M. Godfrey, Early Childhood Care and Education
Sita C. Greene, Early Childhood Care and Education
Anna Grace Lively, Criminal Justice Technology
David Manuel Lopez, Industrial Systems Technology
Jose Lugo, Industrial Systems Technology
Courtney E. McBurnett, Criminal Justice Technology
Dustyn T. Morgan, Automotive Technology
Terry Jerome Morris, Industrial Systems Technology
Bren Nipper, Early Childhood Care and Education
Chidi-Ebere Edeubor Nnamani, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Sonny Apag Padayao, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Eneida Ivette Ramos Rivera, Early Childhood Care and Education
Bladdimir Reyes Alvarado, Automotive Technology
Kelly Rickett, Criminal Justice Technology
Jimmy Rivera Velasquez, Industrial Systems Technology
Madalynn Grace Renee Robertson, Industrial Systems Technology
Juan Carlos Sanchez, Industrial Systems Technology
Lauren Smith, Culinary Arts
Megan Swanson, Social Work Assistant
Tristan B. Taylor, Early Childhood Care and Education
Magan D. Trammel, Early Childhood Care and Education
Sondra R. Washington, Early Childhood Care and Education
Michael Gustav Wendt, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Micah Taylor Wyatt, Industrial Systems Technology
Chaney K. York, Social Work Assistant
MeKayla R. York, Early Childhood Care and Education
Diploma
Zitlali Aguilar Moreno, Criminal Justice Technology
Jason Ahrent, Welding and Joining Technology
Areli Avilies-Gomez, Cosmetology
Eddie Baez, Welding and Joining Technology
Savannah R. Beeler, Cosmetology
Christian Beltran, Industrial Systems Technology
Heather Byars, Cosmetology
Erick Carrillo, Welding and Joining Technology
Josue Chacon Alvarez, Auto Collision Repair
Connor Bryant Cohran, Air Conditioning Technology
Megan Dodd, Cosmetology
Wade Goolsby, Diesel Equipment Technology
Janan M. Hussein, Culinary Arts
Jacquera Marie Jester, Cosmetology
Clayton Scott Johnson, Electrical Systems Technology
Logan Johnson, Welding and Joining Technology
Brandon C. Lowe, Welding and Joining Technology
Tiffany D. Martin, Cosmetology
Wendy Molina-Gutierrez, Cosmetology
Hunter Trace Mullinax, Welding and Joining Technology
Axel Palacios, Welding and Joining Technology
Hailey J. Pilkington, Cosmetology
Matthew Ryne Rountree, Welding and Joining Technology
Nicholas Santos, Welding and Joining Technology
Jakelin Soria Cortes, Early Childhood Care and Education
Juan Manuel Sosa, Welding and Joining Technology
Tiacola C. Tolbert, Cosmetology
Technical Certificate of Credit
Rachel Lynn Alexander, Crime Scene Investigation
Jennifer Ann Anderson, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Laura Barrera, Cosmetology for Licensure
Avry L. Burns, Industrial Electrician
Ajay Cardamone, Industrial Electrician
Destiny N. Carter, Cosmetology for Licensure
Elizabeth Chihuahua, Cosmetology for Licensure
Jamey Beth Childers, Cosmetology for Licensure
Sabina Chilel, Cosmetology for Licensure
Wesley S. Cook, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
Noah T. Dutton, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
Ansley Edmondson, Cosmetology for Licensure
Caleb R. Edwards, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
Marvin Benjamin Escobar, Cosmetology for Licensure
Micaela Odalys Francisco Jimenez, Nail Technician
Hernestina Molina Gutierrez, Cosmetology for Licensure
Clifford Rasheed Hill, Catering Specialist
Dacey E. Hunt, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Allie Gordon Ingle, Cosmetology for Licensure
William C. Jennings, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
Antoinetta T. Jones, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Logan Tanner Long, Air Conditioning Electrical Technician
Alliyah Cassidy McBryde, Cosmetology for Licensure
Marvin McDougle, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
Emily Mijangos-Melendez, Nail Technician
Savannah B. Money, Cosmetology for Licensure
Ashera Sloan Nixon, Nail Technician
Jessy Ortiz-Ramirez, Cosmetology for Licensure
Tyler Philip Robbins, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
TeCorian Leshay Rowland, Nail Technician
Maurica Eliza Rudolph, Nail Technician
Miguel Sanchez, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
Mariah Snipes, Cosmetology for Licensure
Alyssa Rose Spurlock, Cosmetology for Licensure
John F. Tate, IEC Electrical Apprenticeship
Tina L. Tillery, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Brianna Leigh Turner, Nail Technician
Shaina Britt Underwood, Cosmetology for Licensure