2012 GED Commencement Ceremony
The 2012 Surry Community College GED Commencement Ceremony was held on Sunday, September 16 at 3:00 pm. A total of 199 graduates, 68 with honors, successfully completed their GED credential between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Valedictorian for the class was Ryan Wenger and Salutatorian was Nathan Harris. The graduates were joined by family, friends and the College and Career Readiness Faculty who work weekly with students to ensure their success.
Graduates entered the graduation ceremony, led by Surry Community College Ambassadors, Jamison Boles, Summer McHone, Olivia McCauley, and Rubi Ocampo to a prelude presented by pianist Carrie Utt, Business and Engineering Technologies Instructional Assistant.
Virginia A. Stammetti, Director of College and Career Readiness, welcomed the gathering; she recognized family members of graduates as those who have supported and encouraged their student to reach this educational goal. Tony Searcy, Director of Student Activities and Business Advising Coordinator, brought the invocation. Students in the English as a Second Language program presented a musical medley organized by Rebecca Swaim, ESL instructor and Rosa Torres, ESL Coordinator.
Marion Venable, Executive Director of the SCC Foundation, presented the graduation address which included a glimpse into the long tradition of support for Basic Skills and GED students by the Continuing Education staff and faculty. She emphasized that the GED program has provided an educational pathway for those who needed a new direction often due to a high school experience that ended a student’s desire to continue, a life event that became a priority, a learning disability, illness, a lack of support from family, friends or the community, and many more reasons but all are valid and all life changing. These GED students have exhibited commitment, desire and determination which brought them to this very important day. She encouraged each graduate to use this new and valuable credential to pursue a job, support their family, get a promotion, or pursue a college degree, diploma or certificate, but most of all to become an advocate for the GED program.
Dr. David Shockley, President of Surry Community College, and Dr. George Sappenfield, Vice President for Corporate and Continuing Education presented student scholarships and graduate certificates. Graduates, families, friends and college staff enjoyed a reception honoring the graduates in the Knight’s Grill.