Lanier Technical College holds 2016 GED Commencement

Lanier Technical College held its 2016 GED Commencement at the First Baptist Church in Gainesville, and 285 graduates received their certificates. Brenda Thomas, Executive Director of Adult Education, and Dinah Wayne, member of the Technical College System of Georgia State Board of Directors, presented the awards.

ChistiLynn Williamson, Hall County Honor Graduate, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and John Courtney, Barrow County Honor Graduate, led the Invocation. Greg Willeby, Jacksonn County Honor Graduate, led the Benediction at the end of the ceremony.

Roger Slaton, Lanier Technical College Foundation Trustee, introduced the keynote speaker, Desmond Vaird, the 2016 Georgia EAGLE winner. Vaird is a GED graduate himself, and is continuing his studies to become a teacher at the University of North Georgia. Vaird encouraged the new graduates to continue their studies, too.

Dr. Ray Perren, Lanier Tech’s President, congratulated the graduates and conferred the awards. One of the new graduates excitedly shared, “This day has changed my life. I am so excited about my possibilities now.”

Hall County had the most graduates at 93, followed by Forsyth and Barrow Counties with 54 and 51 respectively. Jackson County had 30, Dawson County 24, Lumpkin County 18, and Banks County had 15 graduates.

Lanier Technical College offers over 40 programs of study in some of the nation's fastest-growing career fields including healthcare, energy, business and industry, and public or private service. More information about Lanier Technical College may be obtained by calling 770.533.7000 or by visiting www.laniertech.edu. Lanier Technical College is a Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.