Twenty-three students received their High School Equivalency (HSE) diplomas Tuesday, May 13, through the Youth Success Academy (YSA) at Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Walker County Campus in Rock Spring.

Tammy Pence, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) youth specialist at GNTC, welcomed attendees to the ceremony, which was held at Peavine Baptist Church in Rock Spring. LaRae Eveans, WIOA Youth Services instructional aide at GNTC, gave the Charge to Graduates and presented the graduates.

YSA graduate Kaydence Parson served as commencement speaker. Parson said “I dropped out of high school at the beginning of my freshman year due to multiple reasons, including the fact that I am disabled, and most people simply would not provide accommodations.”

She waited a few years to enter the Youth Success Academy until she felt more capable of completing the program, but she still feared she would fail, Parson explained.

“This program genuinely ignited my love for not just learning, but also my art,” she said. “The instructors engaged with my passions in every aspect.”

Parson said she is proud of how well she is doing as a GNTC student. She recently completed her first semester in the Computer Support Specialist associate degree program.

Vince Stalling, WIOA Youth Services coordinator at GNTC, saluted the graduates. Stalling and Kimberly Arrowood, WIOA Youth Services instructor at GNTC, awarded diplomas. Arrowood also delivered the Closing Remarks.

Courtney Asher, Tabitha Asher, Aiden Bennett, Gage Bowen, Nadine Bowen, Zachary Daniel, Jessika Davis, Sara Rose DeBord, Nicholas Gravitt, Lydia Haggard, Riley Hale, Logan Heath, Emily Housely, Shane Johnson, Kaydence Parson, Montana Pendergrass, Jaxon Pritchett, Hunter Proctor, Chloe Roberts, Kayden Rogers, Braden Tilley, Virginia Wells and Alex Wimbley graduated from the Walker County Campus program. Not all graduates participated in the YSA Graduation Ceremony.

YSA, sponsored through a partnership with GNTC and Northwest Georgia Regional Development Center, is specifically designed for out-of-school youth who wish to attain a HSE diploma and a technical education. Students in the program prepare for the HSE exam and participate in job readiness trainings, as well as workshops and leadership activities.

The Youth Success Academy offers several programs including HSE diploma testing. The academy assists adults up to the age of 24 with college expenses, help with college enrollment and assistance in gaining experience in different career fields. For more information, contact the Floyd County Campus YSA at 706-295-6940 and the Walker County Campus YSA at 706-764-3783.

The Youth Success Academy program at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus in Rome will hold its graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Building A Auditorium of the Floyd County Campus.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 13,775 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,836 students and an additional enrollment of 4,939 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. For more information about GNTC, visit us at www.GNTC.edu.