Graduation held Thursday for 83 GED students

Published or Revised May 11, 2007

The Adult Education Department at Paris Junior College recently held graduation ceremonies Thursday evening for the 83 students who successfully completed the GED program. Dwight Chaney, dean of academic studies, welcomed the crowd on behalf of PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. Chaney expressed how student-oriented Anglin and all faculty and staff members are at the college. Chaney reiterated what an achievement it is for first-generation graduates to go on to higher education. Joan Mathis, PJC writing lab coordinator and instructor, addressed the graduates with "Anecdote of the Jar" by Wallace Stevens and used examples of famous individuals and their use of the keys to success, such as Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Maya Angelou, Andrew Carnegie and others. She displayed a large ceramic jar during her talk. Mathis told the crowd "You won't remember my words, but remember the vase and what it represents." Louisa Kessel, Adult Education director, announced the scholarship winners and honor society inductees. Chaney and Pam Hunt, director of learning skills, presented Dustin Mitchell of Paris with the Bobby R. and Imy Walters Scholarship. The Daon Wall Memorial Scholarship, designated for a student who has put forth extra effort and overcome extraordinary barriers to gain an education, was given to Christiina Fehr of Sumner. William Young of Detroit was awarded the Janie Bonham GED Scholarship. Ten graduates were inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society. This is the first year this has been done at PJC. The society's mission is to develop student ambassadors for local adult education programs and to create adult education awareness with school administrators and state legislators. Student eligibility requirements include dependable attendance, cooperative attitude, self-reliance, to show improvement in test scores and overcome personal and professional obstacles. The students honored included Nathan Archambeault, Laura Everette, Deborah Ford and Brittney Lee all of Paris, Bryan Davis of Sumner, Timothy Wright of Reno, Debra Helliwell of Deport, along with Mitchell, Fehr and Young. Joshua Mears of Clarksville, winner of the State Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) scholarship, gave exuberant remarks to his fellow graduates. "We made it, we rule, no one can ever put us down," he said. "Now it's on to college." Diplomas were presented to the following students: [b]Paris:[/b] James Alexander, Nathan Archambeault, Jonathan Atkinson, James Barnes, Kaylah Beshirs, Trinity Brumett, Elizabeth Cardenas, Josh Chubbee, Eric Clouse, Gloria Cooper, Jessica Crutchfield, Bobbi Daigle, Angela Davidson, Amanda DeAtley, Laura Everette, Cathy Fleming, Deborah Ford, Amber Freeman, Joshua Hall, Amanda Hernandez, Richard Hicks, Prince Humphrey, Vickie Jordan, Brittney Lee, Tiffany Lehman, Faith Martin, Johnny Martinez, Shawun Minor, Dustin Mitchell, Michael Moist, Amber Myers, Cody Pate, Trish Pennington, Ezekiel Simmons, Brenda Story, Selena Wadford, Candice Waldroup, Ashley Wise, Autumn Woods [b]Annona:[/b] Jesse Miller [b]Arthur City:[/b] Angela Patterson [b]Bagwell:[/b] Dana Dunbar [b]Blossom:[/b] Corey Day, Heather Filkins, Courtney Heckaman, Brandon Ridens [b]Brashear:[/b] Staci Foreman [b]Brookston:[/b] Cornisha Brown [b]Clarksville:[/b] Joshua Mears [b]Cooper:[/b] Elaine Godfrey, Rachel Vaughn [b]Deport:[/b] Debra Helliwell, Sam McMullen [b]Detroit:[/b] Lyle Dirks, William Young [b]Greenville:[/b] Amber Deitrick [b]Ladonia:[/b] Elizabeth Dahlin [b]Petty:[/b] Connie Hamilton [b]Pickton:[/b] Gina Bunge [b]Powderly:[/b] Christina Beassie, Kaleb Gurley [b]Reno:[/b] Timothy Wright [b]Suphur Springs:[/b] Tamara Armstrong, Dwayne Baker, Tammie Brown, LeeAnn Crofford, Douglas Danzer, Yazmin, Eskew, Christie Mills, Debra Nowlin, April Palmer, Dale Phillips, LaTasha Smith, Karen Stieber, Angel Stone, Joshua Timmons, Misti Williams [b]Sumner:[/b] Jennifer Copeland, Bryan Davis, Christina Fehr, Yolanda Loewen, Gertruda Peters [b]Telephone:[/b] Bertha Berg