Fifteen students earned their High School Equivalency (HSE) through Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Accelerated Academy on Thursday, June 11.
The graduation ceremony was held in the Conference Center in Building H on GNTC’s Floyd County Campus in Rome. The free Accelerated Academy classes, held June 4-6, provided meals and snacks, HSE instruction, practice tests and testing.
“Today we’re here to celebrate you, your journey, your growth and the courage it took to get here,” said Lisa Shaw, vice president of Adult Education at GNTC. Shaw presented the welcome, introduction, turning of the tassels and closing remarks during the ceremony.
“This ceremony is public acknowledgment of your determination and a reflection of the pride that we all feel in your accomplishment,” Shaw said.
Shaw praised the graduates for their grit and observed that the education they gained will open doors for them in the future; however, their grit and self-confidence will propel them throughout their lives.
Carla DeBose, Professional Development and Family Literacy director at the Office of Adult Education at the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Shaw described DeBose as the “heart” behind the Accelerated Academy program at TCSG.
The High School Equivalency is “the key that opens the doors to your futures. It opens the doors to college if you want it, technical training if you want it, new careers, promotions and opportunities,” DeBose said. “It can be the key to whatever you want it to be, but you have got to have the courage to take the key, open the door and walk through.”
“Every new beginning comes with questions about what lies ahead,” DeBose said. “You’ve already proven that persistence is stronger than doubt.”
She encouraged the graduates to continue moving forward when facing challenges because growth happens when people take the next step—even when they can’t see the entire path ahead.
DeBose noted that 900,000 Georgians do not possess a high school diploma.
Laurie Brooks, Adult Education Career Services specialist at GNTC, presented the certificates, and Owen McWhorter, Adult Basic Education instructor at GNTC, recognized the honor graduates.
Listed are the Spring 2026 Accelerated Academy graduates showing (from left) the graduate’s name and hometown. This list does not include students who have graduated, but did not participate in the ceremony: Chloe Abernathy, Cedar Bluff, Ala.; Edwin Arron Cano Munoz, Dalton; Martin Guzman Jr., Rome; Madison Hammitt, Rome; Naomi Hennon, Summerville; Jannah Holbrook, Trion; Heaven Hughes, Silver Creek; Ayden Jones, Cedartown; Whyatt McEarchern, Rome; Corbin Elizabeth Moore, Rome; December Perez-Garrett, Carrollton; Alexis Rayburn, Rome; Brittany Rios, Cedartown; Ja’Layah Ware, Rome; and Emily Yates, Chatsworth.
Shaw acknowledged TCSG and the Atlanta Gas Light Foundation for providing HSE scholarships and support for the Accelerated Academy program.
The Accelerated Academy is a three-day program that offers a pathway to completing the HSE for those who cannot commit to attending months of classes.
If a participant does not earn the full credential over the three-day period, Adult Education offers programs to provide continued support, instruction and other pathways to success.
The fast-paced classes provide instruction in Language Arts, Math, Reading, Science and Social Studies and focus on what is needed to pass the test. Participants commit to an intensive schedule, with an evening class on Thursday and full-day sessions on Friday and Saturday that include both instruction and testing.
The next Accelerated Academy class will be offered in October at GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus in Dalton. Enrollment is capped at 20.
Participants must be age 18 or older and possess a government-issued form of identification.
For more information, visit www.gntc.edu/adult-education/, email adulted@gntc.edu or call 706-295-6976. Georgia Northwestern Technical College delivers high-quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students can pursue associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in a wide range of career pathways, including aviation, business, health, industrial and public service. Over the past year, 14,082 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. The college has an annual credit enrollment of 9,342 students and achieved a 100 percent placement rate. An additional 4,740 individuals are served through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start® programs.
# # #