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AMERICUS — Thirteen individuals received their nursing pins as Summer 2019 graduates of the South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Americus licensed practical nursing (LPN) program in front of a large crowd of supportive family, friends, instructors, and administrators in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center recently.

The 13 graduates included Richelle Bivins of Ellaville, Sharae Brown of Americus, Savannah Callier of Ellaville, Kelsi Cannon of Ellaville, Brenda Eggers of Ellaville, Amanda Goodall of Americus, Julie Goodman of Americus, Kaylie Perkins of Americus, Sandy Renfroe of Ellaville, Paige Rikard of Preston, Christine Teate of Mauk, Porsha Tyson of Americus, and Sheketta Wakefield of Americus.

Richelle Bivins was selected as the class speaker and she shared about how her journey led her to SGTC and the licensed practical nursing program. “I am 30 years older than the youngest student in this class,” said Bivins. “This is something that I have always wanted to do, but I was too fearful to reach out and try to attain my goal of becoming a nurse.

“I graduated from high school and became an entrepreneur. I created my own jobs. But in 2017, I closed my business, Richelle’s Bakery here in Americus, and decided to return to school to become a nurse. And I did it! It was extremely difficult but we all worked together and we accomplished our goals of graduating from this nursing program. Every member of this class has so much to offer our communities. I am proud of this class and I hope that I have the opportunity to work with you again. You will definitely impact every one that you care for,” said Bivins.

SGTC President John Watford, Ed.D., welcomed the large crowd to the pinning ceremony. “I would like to congratulate, celebrate, and honor these students. The LPN program at South Georgia Technical College is very rigorous and it takes commitment to complete this program. So, I congratulate each of you for your hard work, studying, and commitment. I also celebrate you because you have put all of that hard work and the clinicals behind you. And I honor you for completing what you started and for attaining your personal goals.”

Sam Teate, husband of SGTC LPN graduate Christine Teate, gave the invocation at the pinning ceremony and LPN instructor Jennifer Childs gave a class overview and introduced a short slideshow of the students during the different aspects of the nursing program and clinicals.

SGTC practical nursing instructors Jennifer Childs and Christine Rundle presented the pins to the graduates and graduate Savannah Callier led the class in the Nurse’s Pledge and the Lighting of the Lamp.

Instructor Rundle provided the closing remarks and Sharae Brown did the prayer and benediction for the class.