Nearly 100 graduate from GED program

Published or Revised May 13, 2010

Nearly 100 students were candidates to receive a General Education Development (GED) diploma in ceremonies held May 11 in the Ray Karrer Theater on the Paris Junior College campus. PJC President Pamela Anglin welcomed the students, their family and friends and extended greetings and congratulations. Susan Cook, Paris Junior College GED instructor for adult education and family literacy in Sulphur Springs, introduced the keynote speaker. Dr. Bettie Rose Horne, vice chair and commissioner from the Third Congressional District, South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, is an active consultant on matters related to academic and faculty affairs. She earned her Ph.D. in linguistics at the University of South Carolina. Horne is also active in community affairs in Greenwood, S.C., where she participates in chairing the Board of the greenwood County Food Bank and working for the Voter Registration Office. Dr. Horne was especially happy to make the trip to Paris Junior College and address GED graduates because she has an 80-year-old brother, Sam Jones of Van, among the graduation class of 2010. Dr. Horne addressed the graduates with "You Didn't Get Here By Yourself." She invited members of the audience to stand using various categories of the support system that the students had while continuing their education goals. She reminded the students of the opportunities that are now available to them by virtue of completing their GED degree. "You have proven you are smart; you have persevered to reach this goal; and now you know 'You can do it.'" Susan Sanchez, Adult Education Instructor and Coordinator, English as a Second Language/Civics, awarded scholarships to three outstanding students. Matthew Cox of Brookston received the Rotary Club of Greater Paris Scholarship. Krysti Patton of Brashear received the Bobby R. and Imy Walters Scholarship. Amanda Dockery of Paris received the Daon Wall Memorial Scholarship. Students who achieved membership in the National Adult Education Honor Society are Agustin Alvarado, Joseph Brem, Keely Chester, Matthew Cox, Hunter Davis, Amanda Dockery, Tony Geeslin, Missy Griffin, David Jones, Natasha Lester, Echelle Loftin, Laura Martinez, Charles Nordin, Krysti Patton, Jake Rempel, Regena Reynolds, Maria Wieler, and Chelsey Wilson. Presenting the diplomas were Dr. Pamela Anglin and Vice President of Academics Dwight Chaney. Graduates and their hometowns include: [b]Paris:[/b] Jack Banister, Lilandria Bell, Ineisha Cary, Amanda Crysel, Angela Davis, Deborah Day, Amanda Dockery, Zachary Dvorak, Alphia Earls, Beth Fagan, Philip Folmar, Stephen Ghormley-Jones, Destiny Gonzales, Tarence Lacy, Echelle Lofton, Jerry MacKanick, Kadie Morales, Jessica Pomroy, Matthew Posey, Ryan Pruitte, Christopher Reese, Garion Tennon, Courtney West, Victoria-Rose Wright. [b]Avery:[/b] Heidi McKay [b]Bogata:[/b] Colten Marcellus [b]Blossom:[/b] Angela Jones [b]Brashear:[/b] Jason Gafford, Krysti Patton [b]Brookston:[/b] Laura Martinez, Matthew Cox [b]Canton:[/b] Dakota Knight [b]Celeste:[/b] Clayton Barbee [b]Clarksville:[/b] Missy Griffin, Patricia Stevenson, Starla Stinson [b]Como:[/b] Heather Franks [b]Cooper:[/b] Mistie Bowman, Gloria Kirkpatrick, Amber Singleton [b]Cumby:[/b] Regena Reynolds [b]Emory:[/b] Joseph Brem, Magen Gaby, Calli Robinson, Chelsey Hollingsworth Wison [b]Honey Grove:[/b] Suse Kroeker, Jake Rempel, Maria Wieler [b]Petty:[/b] Peter Friesen [b]Powderly:[/b] Christopher Bird, Benjamin Fields, William Lowery, Miguel Perez [b]Reno:[/b] Stephanie Eller [b]Roxton:[/b] Justin Day, Thomas Murphy [b]Royse City:[/b] Donald Kast Jr. [b]Sulphur Springs:[/b] Agustin Alvarado, Misty Bardin, Chad Beck, Cary Blythe, Quinlon Chapman, Keely Chester, Elizabeth Coleman, Barbara Cooksey, Hunter Davis, Terrie Edwards, Brittany Fawcett, Elizabeth Gandara, Tony Geeslin, Lucas Henkle, Melanie Houghton, Rebecca Jones, Natasha Lester, Jamie Luna, Brandie Marshall, John McCann, Laura Mendez, Desiree' Nickerson, Charles Nordin, Blaine Pierce, Elisha Ramos, Ty Spencer, Gina Threet, Angela Winnett, William Wiser Sumner: Isaak Fehr, Randolf Fehr, Richard Fehr, Anna Klippenstein [b]Van:[/b] Sam Jones [b]Winnsboro:[/b] David Jones [b]Wolfe City:[/b] Kaitlyn Plata Following the ceremonies, family and friends joined the students at a reception in the courtyard of the Louis Williams Administration Building.