TCCC celebrates with new GED grads

The Tri-County Community College (TCCC) Adult Basic Skills division held its annual graduation ceremony on May 12 on the college's main campus in Peachtree.

John Cabe, interim president of the college, was the graduation speaker. He congratulated the graduates on their courage for deciding to go back to school and for overcoming the obstacles that kept them from earning a diploma earlier.

"You should be proud of yourselves for earning your diploma because that's exactly what you did," said Cabe. "You earned it. No one gave it to you."

Students were given the opportunity to speak and several took advantage of the time to talk about what it means to them and to their families for them to finally have a diploma.

Larry Shope said that he was reluctant to start because he had been out of school for 50 years but that the knowledge and patience of the teachers helped him a lot.

"Education has far-reaching effects," he told fellow graduates. "We should encourage anyone who has dropped out of school to go back because we know better than anyone how important it is."

Cecilia Estremera thanked her mother for being a stickler about her getting a diploma.

"Every time I talked to her she asked 'Have you gotten a diploma yet?'¿" she said.

A total of 66 students have completed the national GED test course of study in the past year. They are: Troy Bingham, Lindsey Brooms, Jessica Brown, Joseph Brown, Corey Cagle, Melissa Cagle, Keisha Carringer, Jessica Chekelelee, Ashley Cofer, William Cowart, Ron Deller, Blake Dockery, Dylan Duvall, Christopher Ellingwood, Cecilia Estremera, Alicia Free, Anthony Garrett, Raven Gibson, Edward Grano, Brittney Hall, Tabitha Hampton, Amanda Hedden, Heather Hickman, Amber Holland, Jordyn Howard, Tiffany Jackson, Charles Janes, Steven Jenkins, Angel Lackey, Tristin Lackey, Stephanie Latulipe, Crystal Leatherwood, Amber Ledford, Candice Lee, Macayla Lockaby, Brenda Long, Brenda Lunsford, Brandy Luther, Courtney MacDonald, Miranda Martin, Justine Milanich, Jessica Morrow, Bryan Nichols, Donald Palmer, Christina Parker, Casey Pierce, Francisca Rodriquez, Lacei Rogers, Sherrie Rowland, Larry Shope, Alden Shuman, Kristina Smallwood, Brandy Snow, Kara Spell, Jessica Stiles, Troy Taylor, Carol Thornley, Cody Thrasher, Brian Tortoriello, Jeannie Villar, Lynsey Walker, Zachary Wallace, Katrina Ware, James Watts, and Erika Whitehead.

The GED series is comprised of five separate tests that include the following areas: Writing Skills; Social Studies; Science; Literature and Art; and Mathematics. After successfully passing all of the segments, students receive a High School Equivalency Diploma.