Graduate Yosdel Lizbeth Castaneda’s family celebrates with her. (From left, front) Carmela Martinez, Norma Martinez, Brizeyba Castaneda, Yosdel Lizbeth Castaneda, Johan Rodriguez, Daphne Castaneda, (back) Agricola Hinojosa and Jorge Castaneda. Ms. Castaneda received a diploma in Welding and Joining Technology.
Benjamin Olorunfemi, who earned an associate degree in Cybersecurity, poses with Shredder, GNTC’s mascot
Leyner Argueta, program director and instructor of Business Management at GNTC, delivers the commencement address to the graduate
Dr. Heidi Popham (left), GNTC president, presents Joseph A. Puffer with a diploma in Computer Support Specialist
Dr. Heidi Popham (left), GNTC president, congratulates Jose Daniel Orellana, who earned his diploma in Construction Management
More than 170 Georgia Northwestern Technical College students crossed the stage of the Dalton Convention Center on Thursday to the cheers of their families, friends and instructors.
Vince Stalling, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Services coordinator at GNTC, sang the National Anthem. Donny Holmes, program director and instructor of the Construction Management program at GNTC, led the Invocation.
Stuart Phillips, vice president of Student Affairs at GNTC, recognized High Honor and Honor graduates.
Mr. Phillips also led a special recognition for graduates who are Dual Enrollment Graduates, FBLA Collegiate members, First Generation College Graduates, SkillsUSA members, Student Government Association members and veterans.
Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC, welcomed guests, congratulated the graduates and introduced commencement address speaker Leyner Argueta, program director and instructor of Business Management at GNTC.
“You’re lucky that you ended up at GNTC—whatever path brought you here—and you’re lucky that you ended up with some of these amazing instructors around you,” Mr. Argueta said. “You’re also lucky that these wonderful administrators supported us to do our job and do it well.
“I also don’t want to discount the fact that it wasn’t luck that got you up every morning and helped you go to class. It wasn’t luck that made you do your homework and all the assignments that were given to you. It wasn’t luck that someone out there—a parent, a spouse, a child, a neighbor, a friend—helped you through this journey.”
When other people say someone is lucky, they often envy that individual’s successes, which are the product of the individual’s commitment and hard work, he said. Mr. Argueta commended the commitment of the graduates, their supporters and instructors to give them the best opportunity possible.
Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, vice president of Academic Affairs at GNTC, presented the graduates, and Dr. Popham conferred the graduates with associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Susan Bowman, assistant dean, program director and instructor of Health Information Management Technology at GNTC, administered the GNTC Alumni Association Oath.
Listed are graduates who participated in the 2024 Spring Commencement Ceremony showing (from left) the graduate’s name and program of study. This list does not include students who have graduated, but are not participating in the ceremony, or students who registered for the ceremony after the commencement program was printed:
Associate of Applied Science degree:
Rianna Brooke Atkinson, Respiratory Care
Emily M. Austin, Early Childhood Care and Education
Katelyn Lanell Ayres-Hickman, Marketing Management
Bianca Yvette Bailon, Business Management
Savannah Brumbelow, Computer Support Specialist
Alexa R. Burk, Respiratory Care
Jake Anderson Burkhalter, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Silas Reed Callahan, Web Site Design/Development
Tiffany Allene Chaffer, Business Management
Alexis P. Chastain, Early Childhood Care and Education
Kalei R. Cobb, Accounting
Timothy K. Conner, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Yuliana Cornejo Lopez, Business Management
Montserrath Cruz, Early Childhood Care and Education
Elizabeth Grace Dagostino, Cybersecurity
Kealani Keundae Daniel, Business Management
Yadira De Leon-Matute, Construction Management
Kayla Breann Dockery, Business Management
Adam Wade French, Computer Support Specialist
Summer Alyssa Goins, Drafting Technology
Julia M. Gonzalez, Business Management
Lana Charlene Grindstaff, Business Management
Ian P. Guider, Technical Studies
Maria Veronica Guzman Escutia, Respiratory Care
Kaitlyn Sierra Hartline, Business Management
Amber Renee Hight, Respiratory Care
Holly L. Hogan, Accounting
Savannah Marie Howington, Industrial Systems Technology
Breanna M. Hudson, Accounting
Crystal Hudspeth, Accounting
Cassidy Renee Jacobs-Jacks, Social Work Assistant
Cassandra Neptune Jean-Simon, Respiratory Care
Claudia Anice Lewis, Health Care Management
Heydi G. Martinez, Criminal Justice Technology
Areyanne Nybri’ Mazique, Respiratory Care
Alma D. Mitchell, Industrial Systems Technology
Ashley Montgomery, Respiratory Care
Beverly Neill, Criminal Justice Technology
Ashley Camille Norton, Respiratory Care
Benjamin Olorunfemi, Cybersecurity
Francois Xavier Onana Atangana, Business Management
Chadwick Parkman, Cybersecurity
Esmeralda Peinado, Early Childhood Care and Education
Tara Elizabeth Peloquin, Respiratory Care
Corinna B. Perrusquia, Respiratory Care
Pamela D. Perry, Business Healthcare Technology
Ashley Pigman, Computer Support Specialist
William Price, Drafting Technology
Cristian Alejandra Ramirez-Martinez, Industrial Systems Technology
Ana Keslie Ramos, Business Healthcare Technology
Kaitlin Ratledge, Business Management
Christina M. Robinson, Business Management
Daniela Rodriguez-Romo, Early Childhood Care and Education
Nicole Romo-Wright, Accounting
Kayla Peek Santos, Respiratory Care
Elena Mitzela Serrano, Horticulture
Amber Sexton, Criminal Justice Technology
George Andrew Stoker, Industrial Systems Technology
Kayleigh Reanna Story, Respiratory Care
Keona R. Thomas, Early Childhood Care and Education
Maddie Gayle Tilley, Respiratory Care
Kimberly Rochelle Treadaway, Health Information Management Technology
Juana Vejar, Business Management
Kelsey Wade, Respiratory Care
Breanna R. Ware, Business Management
Savannah Rain Wentz, Early Childhood Care and Education
David L. Yarbrough, Industrial Systems Technology
Associate of Science in Nursing degree:
Nidian Almazan
Ashley Anton
Brianne E. Bauswell
Vanessa Elise Blackmon
Ja’Teria Colts
Carly LaRai Ellison
Kymberly Grahn
Tania Linares
Kila Ivory Martin
Sadie Cierra Medckie
Jessica Sarah Parker
Amber L. Ptak
Brea S. Robbs
Jessica Nicole Washington
Diploma:
Anas Ahmad Alswaiti, Air Conditioning Technology
Carolina Arellano Lopez, Early Childhood Care and Education
Phillip Barge, Industrial Systems Technology
Kevin Barrientos-Torres, Welding and Joining Technology
Ashley D. Bennett, Marketing Management
Chuck Lynn Boyd, Electrical Systems Technology
Destiny F. Brown, Criminal Justice Technology
Yosdel Lizbeth Castaneda, Welding and Joining Technology
Tonya Couch, Social Work Assistant
Caleb Jordan Coulter, Business Management
Joel Cruz, Air Conditioning Technology
Ivan Cruz Juarez, Air Conditioning Technology
Jacen Frank Dixon, Welding and Joining Technology
Juana Samantha Franklin, Auto Collision Repair
Ridge Holcomb, Welding and Joining Technology
Dorothy Naomi Illangovan, Accounting
Dennis Eric Kollman, CNC Technology
Jose Leal, Electrical Systems Technology
Tracy Lynn Lomax, Early Childhood Care and Education
Natalie Nicole Matthews, Business Healthcare Technology
Joanna M. Miranda, Business Healthcare Technology
Angel Montoya, Air Conditioning Technology
Jennifer Beth Moore, Business Management
Jose Daniel Orellana, Construction Management
Gabriel Pineda, Air Conditioning Technology
Amanda D. Pope, Business Management
Joseph A. Puffer, Computer Support Specialist
Christian Randy Ramirez Perez, Electrical Systems Technology
David Emmanuel Rosales, Air Conditioning Technology
Connor Rowell, Electrical Systems Technology
Fabian Salaises, Welding and Joining Technology
Michael Jarrett Smith, Diesel Equipment Technology
Zachary Templeton, Welding and Joining Technology
Hannah A. Waits, Cybersecurity
Technical Certificate of Credit:
Nathaniel Abbott Jr., Vertical Shielded Metal Arc Welder Fabricator
Alicia Alford, Clinical Office Assistant
Jennifer Ali, Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician-Adv
Samuel Edward Atchley, Entrepreneurship
Madalyne Rae Atkins, Clinical Office Assistant
Jennifer Bell, Clinical Office Assistant
Shaniqua K. Blair, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician
Olivia Bradford, Clinical Office Assistant
Zamyhia D. Bradley, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician
Alemar K. Briceno, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Juan A. Cabrera, Commercial Wiring
Cristian Alexander Calachij-Ajqui, Administrative Support Assistant
Lizbeth Selene Calderon-Barrios, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Gavin Ryan Carroll, Gas Tungsten Arc Welder
Aerial Alexandria Caylor, Phlebotomy Technician
Madison Chapman, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Tricia Chastain, Human Resource Management Specialist
Cala C. Clark, Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician-Adv
Tanya Cobb, CNA (Nurse Aide Accelerated)
Braden Andrew Davis, Gas Tungsten Arc Welder
Kaylynn Dickerson, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Evan J. Doyal, Vertical Shielded Metal Arc Welder Fabricator
Quishantia Drayton, Medical Coding
Raquel Escutia, Clinical Office Assistant
Drema Nicole Hall, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Savannah Hibbs, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Alexis J. Hunter, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician
Nevaeh King, Child Development Specialist
Makayla E. Kinsey, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician
Audrey R. Lang, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Thamara Lon, Administrative Support Assistant
Sarah F. Marrero, Human Resource Management Specialist
Maribeth Mateo, Salon and Spa Support Specialist
Jahterriya McCluskey, Nail Technician
Alma Ofelia Morales, Clinical Office Assistant
Carolina Morales-Jimenez, Clinical Office Assistant
Blanca Esmeralda Morrugares, Data Entry Clerk
Catherine G. Navas, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician
Jameelah Newton, Salon and Spa Support Specialist
Malak Odeh, Administrative Support Assistant
Salud Osegueda, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Natalia Palmerin, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Esmeralda Pelico-Natividad, Administrative Support Assistant
Mya Monae Pruitt, Nail Technician
Jared Reyes, Microsoft Word Application Professional
Yessica Reyes, Clinical Office Assistant
Ana Rosa Reyes Cornejo, Administrative Support Assistant
Keenan Riley, Automotive Refinishing Assistant II
Richaben Sunilkumar Shah, CNA (Nurse Aide Accelerated)
Victoria E. Simmons, Clinical Office Assistant
Audrey Faith Smith, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician
Samara E’Niya Smith, Salon and Spa Support Specialist
Kendra Strickland, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Haley Elizabeth-Marie Wheat, Clinical Office Assistant
Destiny A. Williams, Salon and Spa Support Specialist
Shirley A. Willis, Healthcare Science