May 8, 2022–4:15 p.m.
NEWS RELEASE
More than 150 Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) students crossed the stage of the Dalton Convention Center on Thursday, May 5, to the cheers of their families, friends, and instructors.
Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC, welcomed guests, congratulated the graduates, and introduced Drafting Technology student William Robert Rutledge, GNTC’s 2022 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner, as the keynote commencement speaker. Dr. Popham called Rutledge a “wonderful ambassador for GNTC and technical education, representing all of the positive qualities of our student body.”
“Reaching this goal this evening was the result of a different path taken by each of you. Some of you had an easy journey while others struggled each semester,” Dr. Popham said. “No matter the route you took or the challenges that you faced, each of you sits here tonight having surpassed each and every one of those barriers.”
While serving 17 years in prison for leading police on a high-speed chase, Rutledge overcame drug addiction and worked at the Georgia Correctional Industries (GCI) metal fabrication plant. He designed a reception desk for the Governor’s Office in the Georgia State Capitol Building while he was in the transition phase towards the end of his incarceration. Upon release from prison, he immediately signed up for classes at GNTC and was hired by GCI as a CAD draftsman. He was onsite at the State Capitol during the installation of the desk.
“I am proof that rehabilitation can work and what better addition to a successful reentry than technical education,” Rutledge stated.
“I cannot change my past, but I can change how I move forward in my life from this moment on,” he said. “I’m very grateful there are people in this world who see the changes in me and love me for who I am and do not judge me for who I was in the past.”
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, Phi Beta Lambda members, SkillsUSA members, and Student Government Association members.
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 ceremony concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Popham in which she challenged the graduates not to let this graduation be the end of their educational journey.
Allison Patnode, dean of Nursing and Allied Health, administered the GNTC Alumni Association Oath.
Listed are graduates who participated in the 2022 Spring Commencement Ceremony showing (from left) the graduate’s name and program of study. This list does not include students who have graduated, but did not participate in the ceremony, or students who registered for the ceremony after the commencement program was printed:
Associate of Applied Science degree
Josi E. Adcock, Business Management
Jillian Marie Alspaugh, Business Healthcare Technology
Bridget N. Badon, Early Childhood Care and Education
Kelvin Bales, Business Management
Andres Beltran, Construction Management
Krista M. Benton, Accounting
Jade B. Bishop, Health Care Management
Catherine Angela Bowers, Marketing Management
Elwin Bucariza, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Colton M. Burkhalter, Respiratory Care
Jessica Carnes, Business Management
Kali Clark, Business Healthcare Technology
Cesar Cornejo Lopez, Industrial Systems Technology
Brooke Cornette, Early Childhood Care and Education
James Tristan Cotter, Computer Support Specialist
Taylor S. Council, Business Management
Amanda N. Crowder, Business Technology
Ashley Crowley, Respiratory Care
Corey Curtis, Business Management
Isaiah S. Curtis, Construction Management
Shaticia Renado Curtis, Respiratory Care
Justin M. Davis, Cybersecurity
Cassidy Jordan Dobbs, Early Childhood Care and Education
Heidi Dougherty, Respiratory Care
Harrison Fraire, Construction Management
Joshua A. Fromm, Business Management
Andrew Kelley Fuller, Criminal Justice Technology
Kaitlyn H. Fuller, Business Management
Caterine Ivonne Galicia Baez, Business Management
Jocelyn Diana Garcia, Business Management
Sabrina Luz Garcia, Business Management
Jessica Marie Gibson, Respiratory Care
Emily Gilbreath, Early Childhood Care and Education
Paige N. Goldsmith, Accounting
Lupita Guzman, Business Management
Rajohnae A. Hames, Criminal Justice Technology
Jarred Randall Harrison, Accounting
Brock Alexander Hart, Business Management
Tonya Nicole Henderson, Business Technology
William Judson Holden, Construction Management
Cadence Hughes, Accounting
Kristin Leah Johnson, Business Healthcare Technology
Ethan Douglas Kitchen, Culinary Arts
Ariel L. Lewis, Horticulture
Tara L. Linville, Business Management
Samantha Lynn Longacre, Accounting
McKenzie Caroline McCluskey, Business Management
Leslee Yohari Menjivar, Business Management
Francisco J. Molina, Business Management
Denna A. Morgan, Business Management
Ronaysia Shileice Moseley, Criminal Justice Technology
Luis Eduardo Oliva, Respiratory Care
Leticia M. Olvera, Business Management
Taylor B. Pittman, Health Information Management Technology
Ciera W. Pitts, Respiratory Care
Hannah Elizabeth Raines, Respiratory Care
Carlos M. Rodriguez, Industrial Systems Technology
Juan D. Ruiz, Industrial Systems Technology
Anthony Wayne Sanders, Industrial Systems Technology
Matthew William Shuff, Respiratory Care
Ashley Clare Simmons, Business Technology
Amber N. Stapley, Respiratory Care
Spencer Alexander Stewart, Automotive Technology
Michael Stoker Sr., Business Technology
Kolby T. Sullivan, Early Childhood Care and Education
Amilee Mae Sutherland, Respiratory Care
Nermina Terzic, Accounting
Megan L. Thomasson, Criminal Justice Technology
Rebecca Nicole Tomlinson, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Raquel Torres, Business Management
Jennifer Triana, Business Management
Aslyn N. Truett, Respiratory Care
Luis A. Vasquez, Industrial Systems Technology
Alexia T. Waits, Business Management
Payton B. West, Instrumentation and Controls Technician
Findley C. White, Construction Management
Sigmund D. White, Business Management
Darby S. Whitmire, Criminal Justice Technology
Harrison Hunter Wrisley, Industrial Systems Technology
Associate of Science in Nursing degree
Laura Annette Anaya, Nursing
Summer D. Boyer, Nursing
Danielle L. Brown, Nursing
Brittany N. Chambers, Nursing
Peyton Leigh Cothran, Nursing
Daisy Espinoza, Nursing
Jennifer Esquivel, Nursing
Katrina J. Martin, Nursing
Maria Isabel Nunez, Nursing
Heather M. Penno, Nursing
Yulivet Perez Rios, Nursing
Margarita Rangel, Nursing
Channel A. Salazar, Nursing
Mayra J. Salazar, Nursing
Rosaangelica Sandoval, Nursing
Ashley Brooke Turner, Nursing
Mary Willis, Nursing
Diploma
Katherine Joyce Basham, Welding and Joining Technology
Matthew Gregory Bryson, Electrical Systems Technology
Erica Dionne Caldwell, Business Management
Fleur DeMeester Coffman, Business Management
Zachary C. Costlow, Welding and Joining Technology
Arcilia A. Escalante, Business Healthcare Technology
Daniel Kent Franks, Welding and Joining Technology
Tia R. Harris, Business Technology
Kaley E. Hill, Early Childhood Care and Education
Braden Gregg Johnson, Electrical Systems Technology
Mariano Alberto Juan, Criminal Justice Technology
Regina A. McKin, Social Work Assistant
Jesus Medina, Electrical Systems Technology
Amanda Mohon, Business Healthcare Technology
Henry Pacheco, Welding and Joining Technology
Kevin J. Payne, Networking Specialist
William Ramiro Roblero, Electrical Systems Technology
Luis Fernando Rodriguez, Automotive Technology
Isidro A. Tapia, Automotive Technology
Derrick L. Williams, Air Conditioning Technology
Technical Certificate of Credit
Danna Sherlyn Balcarcel Hernandez, Medical Front Office Specialist
Bailey Jarrett Blankenship, Industrial Electrician
Yesenia Maria Brito, Health Care Assistant
Madeline S. Burgan, Technical Specialist
Angel Dawn Butler, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Markesha L. Dammond, Clinical Office Assistant
Nathan Alex Dooley, Emergency Medical Technician
Vanessa J. Flores, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Katherine E. Foley, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Joshua Perry Foster, Gas Tungsten ARC Welder
Ja’Viyah Syncier Gooch, Medical Front Office Specialist
Cheyenne M. Graham, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Erika Guzman Hernandez, Medical Front Office Assistant
Nathan Graham Hannigan, Electrical Contracting Technician
Carla A. Harris, Medical Front Office Assistant
Alondra Janet Huerta, Phlebotomy Technician
Savannah Leigh Johnson, Human Resource Management Specialist
Samantha N. Jones, Medical Front Office Assistant
Shanique D. King, Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician
Olivia Jae Langham, Clinical Office Assistant
Natalie N. Matthews, Health Care Assistant
Rebekah Moore, Health Care Assistant
Jorge Peinado Segura, Industrial Electrician
Kelsey B. Quick, Clinical Office Assistant
Kaylyn Mackensie Reed, Phlebotomy Technician
Noe Reyes Garcia, Health Care Assistant
Ashley Lavolia Richardson, Nail Technician
Keila Rivers, Clinical Office Assistant
Dominique Robinson-Epps, Healthcare Billing and Coding Specialist
Chelsey LeAnne Selman, Phlebotomy Technician
Terri Candra Thompson, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
Shakela Thornton, Medical Front Office Assistant
Frances Deanna Tidwell, Human Resource Management Specialist
Zaida Niomi Torres, Health Care Science
Brittany Tzoy, Healthcare Billing and Coding Specialist
Bryan Verdel, Diesel Truck Maintenance Technician
Javien Lemar Williams, Clinical Office Assistant
Emily Anne Williamson, Nail Technician
Anna Marie Wilson, Healthcare Billing and Coding Specialist
Laura Faith Wilson, Medical Coding
Kylie Marie Womack, Clinical Office Assistant