CTC Instructor Gives Words of Wisdom to Graduates

As new graduates prepare to make their mark on the world, one Chattahoochee Technical College instructor encouraged them to be the hero of their own lives and to have the courage to follow their heart.
Chattahoochee Technical College honored the more than 500 students who petitioned to graduate from the state’s largest technical college during a commencement ceremony held Thursday, May 18, at the Clarence Brown Conference Center in Cartersville. Representing students from the spring semester, just under 200 graduates from the college’s six-county service area walked across the stage to receive a technical certificate of credit, diploma or an Associate of Applied Science degree.Students who completed an Associate of Applied Science or diploma program with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average wore gold honor cords to signify their accomplishment, while 11 veterans proudly wore red, white and blue honor cords during graduation.
The most popular area of study for graduates was Health Sciences. This was followed by programs in the area of Business Sciences, including Accounting, Business Technology, Business Management, Marketing Management and programs in the field of Public and Professional Services, including Cosmetology, Criminal Justice Technology and Early Childhood Care and Education.
“In the life of a college, graduation is a very significant event. For the faculty, graduation represents a justifiable pride in their subject area and in their knowledge and skills,” CTC President Dr. Ron Newcomb said. “However, commencement is principally a celebration of you – our candidates for graduation. It’s a celebration of what you have accomplished, the skills and knowledge you have acquired and the credentials that you have earned.” CTC Biology instructor Dr. Juanita Forrester encouraged students to have pride in their accomplishments, stating each of them had earned that right.
“When I think of pride, I think of all the attributes that encompass it; I think of all the characteristics you demonstrated to earn it. Mostly, I think of what it takes to keep it,” she said. “Throw the word ‘quit’ out of your vocabulary. How far you are willing to push when others around you are faltering is the true measure of your character.” Forrester challenged graduates to find what interests them the most and pursue it with unwavering enthusiasm. “Pursue your passion. For me, it was education and the potential to influence as positively and as completely as others influenced me,” she said. “It is right to expect the best out of those around you when you are giving your absolute best. Keep your expectations high and remember that you must meet your own.”
For Bartow County resident Tiffany Loving, graduating from Chattahoochee Technical College was more than a personal accomplishment — she is now able to show her two sons that anything is possible. Cherokee County resident Misty Wilson, who earned a Technical Specialist Certificate, shared a similar sentiment. “Graduating is super special to me. I came from a domestic violence situation and just to be in this moment right now is super special,” she said.
Mariah Young, a Powder Springs resident and senior at Kennesaw Mountain High School, was one of only a few Move On When Ready students to earn a college degree before finishing high school. Summing it up in one word, Young said graduating means “success.”
“I will complete my four-year degree in about two years or less,” she said. “This makes my dream of obtaining a doctorate of pharmacy more plausible and shortens that time that I spend in college post high school.”
Pickens County residents Thomas Dillard and Alice Zipse both earned diplomas in Welding & Joining Technology and said the accomplishment will put them one step closer to reaching their career goals.
“I wanted to get into art school, but it was too expensive. Chattahoochee Technical College’s Appalachian Campus is close to my home and was affordable,” Zipse, a nontraditional student, said. “Graduating today means a lot to me. Being a female in a male-dominated field can be discouraging, but my advice to others is to never give up.”
Austin Haygood and Haley York are two Paulding County residents who graduated with Associate of Applied Science degrees. Haygood, who studied Television Production Technology, said graduation marks the completion of his schooling and the start to a lifetime of work.
“It feels amazing to be graduating,” York, who earned a degree in Surgical Technology, said. “The hard work has paid off.”
To learn more about Chattahoochee Technical College, visit ChattahoocheeTech.edu.

photo #1: Dr. Newcomb: Chattahoochee Technical College President Dr. Ron Newcomb praised the graduates for the credentials they have earned.
photo #2: Haley York and Austin Haygood, both of Paulding County, graduated from Chattahoochee Technical College on May 18 with Associate of Applied Science degrees. York completed the Surgical Technology program and Haygood completed Television Production Technology.
photo #3: Joining many of her fellow graduates, Haley York put a special message on her cap.