More than 170 Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) students crossed the stage of the Dalton Convention Center on Thursday, May 2, to the cheers of their families, friends and instructors.

Vince Stalling, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Services coordinator at GNTC, sang the National Anthem. Donny Holmes, program director and instructor of the Construction Management program at GNTC, led the Invocation.

Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC, welcomed guests, congratulated the graduates and introduced commencement address speaker Leyner Argueta, program director and instructor of Business Management at GNTC.

“You’re lucky that you ended up at GNTC—whatever path brought you here—and you’re lucky that you ended up with some of these amazing instructors around you,” Argueta said. “You’re also lucky that these wonderful administrators supported us to do our job and do it well.”

“I also don’t want to discount the fact that it wasn’t luck that got you up every morning and helped you go to class,” Argueta said. “It wasn’t luck that made you do your homework and all the assignments that were given to you. It wasn’t luck that someone out there—a parent, a spouse, a child, a neighbor, a friend—helped you through this journey.”

When other people say someone is lucky, they often envy that individual’s successes, which are the product of the individual’s commitment and hard work, he said. Argueta commended the commitment of the graduates, their supporters and instructors to give them the best opportunity possible.

Stuart Phillips, vice president of Student Affairs at GNTC, recognized High Honor and Honor graduates. Phillips also led a special recognition for graduates who are Dual Enrollment Graduates, FBLA Collegiate members, First Generation College Graduates, SkillsUSA members, Student Government Association members and veterans.

Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, vice president of Academic Affairs at GNTC, presented the graduates, and Dr. Popham conferred the graduates with associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Susan Bowman, assistant dean, program director and instructor of Health Information Management Technology at GNTC, administered the GNTC Alumni Association Oath.

Listed are graduates who participated in the 2024 Spring Commencement Ceremony showing (from left) the graduate’s name and program of study. This list does not include students who have graduated, but are not participating in the ceremony, or students who registered for the ceremony after the commencement program was printed:

Associate of Applied Science degree  

• Rianna Brooke Atkinson, Respiratory Care

• Emily M. Austin, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Katelyn Lanell Ayres-Hickman, Marketing Management

• Bianca Yvette Bailon, Business Management

• Savannah Brumbelow, Computer Support Specialist

• Alexa R. Burk, Respiratory Care

• Jake Anderson Burkhalter, Aviation Maintenance Technology

• Silas Reed Callahan, Web Site Design/Development

• Tiffany Allene Chaffer, Business Management

• Alexis P. Chastain, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Kalei R. Cobb, Accounting

• Timothy K. Conner, Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Yuliana Cornejo Lopez, Business Management

• Montserrath Cruz, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Elizabeth Grace Dagostino, Cybersecurity

• Kealani Keundae Daniel, Business Management

• Yadira De Leon-Matute, Construction Management

• Kayla Breann Dockery, Business Management

• Adam Wade French, Computer Support Specialist

• Summer Alyssa Goins, Drafting Technology

• Julia M. Gonzalez, Business Management

• Lana Charlene Grindstaff, Business Management

• Ian P. Guider, Technical Studies

• Maria Veronica Guzman Escutia, Respiratory Care

• Kaitlyn Sierra Hartline, Business Management

• Amber Renee Hight, Respiratory Care

• Holly L. Hogan, Accounting

• Savannah Marie Howington, Industrial Systems Technology

• Breanna M. Hudson, Accounting

• Crystal Hudspeth, Accounting

• Cassidy Renee Jacobs-Jacks, Social Work Assistant

• Cassandra Neptune Jean-Simon, Respiratory Care

• Claudia Anice Lewis, Health Care Management

• Heydi G. Martinez, Criminal Justice Technology

• Areyanne Nybri’ Mazique, Respiratory Care

• Alma D. Mitchell, Industrial Systems Technology

• Ashley Montgomery, Respiratory Care

• Beverly Neill, Criminal Justice Technology

• Ashley Camille Norton, Respiratory Care

• Benjamin Olorunfemi, Cybersecurity

• Francois Xavier Onana Atangana, Business Management

• Chadwick Parkman, Cybersecurity

• Esmeralda Peinado, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Tara Elizabeth Peloquin, Respiratory Care

• Corinna B. Perrusquia, Respiratory Care

• Pamela D. Perry, Business Healthcare Technology

• Ashley Pigman, Computer Support Specialist

• William Price, Drafting Technology

• Cristian Alejandra Ramirez-Martinez, Industrial Systems Technology

• Ana Keslie Ramos, Business Healthcare Technology

• Kaitlin Ratledge, Business Management

• Christina M. Robinson, Business Management

• Daniela Rodriguez-Romo, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Nicole Romo-Wright, Accounting

• Kayla Peek Santos, Respiratory Care

• Elena Mitzela Serrano, Horticulture

• Amber Sexton, Criminal Justice Technology

• George Andrew Stoker, Industrial Systems Technology

• Kayleigh Reanna Story, Respiratory Care

• Keona R. Thomas, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Maddie Gayle Tilley, Respiratory Care

• Kimberly Rochelle Treadaway, Health Information Management Technology

• Juana Vejar, Business Management

• Kelsey Wade, Respiratory Care

• Breanna R. Ware, Business Management

• Savannah Rain Wentz, Early Childhood Care and Education

• David L. Yarbrough, Industrial Systems Technology

Associate of Science in Nursing degree  

• Nidian Almazan

• Ashley Anton

• Brianne E. Bauswell

• Vanessa Elise Blackmon

• Ja’Teria Colts

• Carly LaRai Ellison

• Kymberly Grahn

• Tania Linares

• Kila Ivory Martin

• Sadie Cierra Medckie

• Jessica Sarah Parker

• Amber L. Ptak

• Brea S. Robbs

• Jessica Nicole Washington

Diploma              

• Anas Ahmad Alswaiti, Air Conditioning Technology

• Carolina Arellano Lopez, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Phillip Barge, Industrial Systems Technology

• Kevin Barrientos-Torres, Welding and Joining Technology

• Ashley D. Bennett, Marketing Management

• Chuck Lynn Boyd, Electrical Systems Technology

• Destiny F. Brown, Criminal Justice Technology

• Yosdel Lizbeth Castaneda, Welding and Joining Technology

• Tonya Couch, Social Work Assistant

• Caleb Jordan Coulter, Business Management

• Joel Cruz, Air Conditioning Technology

• Ivan Cruz Juarez, Air Conditioning Technology

• Jacen Frank Dixon, Welding and Joining Technology

• Juana Samantha Franklin, Auto Collision Repair

• Ridge Holcomb, Welding and Joining Technology

• Dorothy Naomi Illangovan, Accounting

• Dennis Eric Kollman, CNC Technology

• Jose Leal, Electrical Systems Technology

• Tracy Lynn Lomax, Early Childhood Care and Education

• Natalie Nicole Matthews, Business Healthcare Technology

• Joanna M. Miranda, Business Healthcare Technology

• Angel Montoya, Air Conditioning Technology

• Jennifer Beth Moore, Business Management

• Jose Daniel Orellana, Construction Management

• Gabriel Pineda, Air Conditioning Technology

• Amanda D. Pope, Business Management

• Joseph A. Puffer, Computer Support Specialist

• Christian Randy Ramirez Perez, Electrical Systems Technology

• David Emmanuel Rosales, Air Conditioning Technology

• Connor Rowell, Electrical Systems Technology

• Fabian Salaises, Welding and Joining Technology

• Michael Jarrett Smith, Diesel Equipment Technology

• Zachary Templeton, Welding and Joining Technology

• Hannah A. Waits, Cybersecurity            

Technical Certificate of Credit   

• Nathaniel Abbott Jr., Vertical Shielded Metal Arc Welder Fabricator

• Alicia Alford, Clinical Office Assistant

• Jennifer Ali, Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician-Adv

• Samuel Edward Atchley, Entrepreneurship

• Madalyne Rae Atkins, Clinical Office Assistant

• Jennifer Bell, Clinical Office Assistant

• Shaniqua K. Blair, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician

• Olivia Bradford, Clinical Office Assistant

• Zamyhia D. Bradley, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician

• Alemar K. Briceno, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Juan A. Cabrera, Commercial Wiring

• Cristian Alexander Calachij-Ajqui, Administrative Support Assistant

• Lizbeth Selene Calderon-Barrios, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Gavin Ryan Carroll, Gas Tungsten Arc Welder

• Aerial Alexandria Caylor, Phlebotomy Technician

• Madison Chapman, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Tricia Chastain, Human Resource Management Specialist

• Cala C. Clark, Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician-Adv

• Tanya Cobb, CNA (Nurse Aide Accelerated)

• Braden Andrew Davis, Gas Tungsten Arc Welder

• Kaylynn Dickerson, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Evan J. Doyal, Vertical Shielded Metal Arc Welder Fabricator

• Quishantia Drayton, Medical Coding

• Raquel Escutia, Clinical Office Assistant

• Drema Nicole Hall, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Savannah Hibbs, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Alexis J. Hunter, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician

• Nevaeh King, Child Development Specialist

• Makayla E. Kinsey, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician

• Audrey R. Lang, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Thamara Lon, Administrative Support Assistant

• Sarah F. Marrero, Human Resource Management Specialist

• Maribeth Mateo, Salon and Spa Support Specialist

• Jahterriya McCluskey, Nail Technician

• Alma Ofelia Morales, Clinical Office Assistant

• Carolina Morales-Jimenez, Clinical Office Assistant

• Blanca Esmeralda Morrugares, Data Entry Clerk

• Catherine G. Navas, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician

• Jameelah Newton, Salon and Spa Support Specialist

• Malak Odeh, Administrative Support Assistant

• Salud Osegueda, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Natalia Palmerin, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Esmeralda Pelico-Natividad, Administrative Support Assistant

• Mya Monae Pruitt, Nail Technician

• Jared Reyes, Microsoft Word Application Professional

• Yessica Reyes, Clinical Office Assistant

• Ana Rosa Reyes Cornejo, Administrative Support Assistant

• Keenan Riley, Automotive Refinishing Assistant II

• Richaben Sunilkumar Shah, CNA (Nurse Aide Accelerated)

• Victoria E. Simmons, Clinical Office Assistant

• Audrey Faith Smith, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician

• Samara E’Niya Smith, Salon and Spa Support Specialist

• Kendra Strickland, Early Childhood Care and Education Basics

• Haley Elizabeth-Marie Wheat, Clinical Office Assistant

• Destiny A. Williams, Salon and Spa Support Specialist

• Shirley A. Willis, Healthcare Science