156 students complete PJC’s GED program

Published or Revised May 10, 2012

Ceremonies were held for the 156 students who successfully met testing requirements to receive diplomas for general education development (GED) graduates Tuesday, May 8. Paris Junior College President Dr. Pamela Anglin welcomed the graduates, family and friends. EL Civics Coordinator Susan Cook gave the invocation. Director of Adult Education and Family Literacy Krista McAdamis introduced Mike Folmar, former adult education counselor and current Adult Education Advisory Board, as keynote speaker. Folmar shared how two of his former teachers and the subjects they taught had an important bearing on his future life and career. He encouraged the graduates to have a "hunger for education." "My greatest thrill is to meet former GED students who are a success because of GED," he said. "Make the decision now to get every job done, don't procrastinate." Folmar read a poem he had written, "Decision Time is Here." Former Director Louisa Kessel announced winners of the $200 Paris Junior College Schholarships. The five recipients include Susan Renno of Brookston, the Bobby R. and Imy Walters Scholarship; Ginna Hopkins of Como, the Michael A. Folmar Honorary Scholarship; Angelia Smith of Sulphur Springs, the Daon Wall Memorial Scholarship; Darell Melvin of Paris, the Lamar County Literacy Council Scholarship; and Jeremy Moore of Paris, the Janie Bonham Scholarship. Students who achieved membership in the National Adult Education Honor Society include Charlotte Arrington, Jonathan (Randy) Avera, Regina Bailey, Peggy Baldree, Kevin Beck, Ashlee Campbell, Ashley Cline, Jennifer Couch, Brittany Dahl, Carl Daniels, Laura Duarte-Soto, Judy Fehr, Elizabeth Follis, Lauren Gibson, Mary Gregory, Ginna Hopkins, Sarah Marks, Joshua Meeks, Darell Melvin, Jennifer Moon, Patricia Munoz, Alyssa Munoz, Stormie Musick, Christopher Pickerill, Susan Renno, Sheila Reusel, Gabriel Rubio, Clint Sikes, Nicholas Smart, Selden Smeltzer, Angelia Smith, Brenda Smith, Kristal Toland, Aganetha Unger, Todd Welch and Ashley Young. English as a Second Language (ESL) students achieving membership in the Society are Kohinoor Alam, Mohammed Alam, Anna Banman, Gertruda Hiebert, Juana Ibarra, Hugo Mendoza, Romana Reyes and Celia Warner. Nominations to the honor society are based on dependable attendance, cooperative attitude, self-reliance, showing improvement in test scores, and overcoming personal and professional obstacles. The Society provides meaningful recognition to deserving adult education students, improves student employment opportunities, develops student ambassadors for local adult education programs and creates adult education awareness with school administrators and state legislators. GED graduates and their hometowns are: Paris: Megan Anders, Matthew Arney, Peggy Baldree, Dillon Beach, Sara Booth, Marjorie Bowling, Jayla Bowman, Jessica Briggle, Lois Brockway, Kilee Brown, Sasha Brown, Austin Brumbalow, Sarah Chapell, Nicholas Clark, Sharon Cooper, Jacob Croushore, Leslie Croy, Tiffany Dawson, Garren Dorse, Thomas Dunning, Rebekah Evins, Lauren Gibson, Carlee Haley, Shataria Harmon, Charlie Hazlin, Stephanie Hearne, Daryl Henderson, DeQuan Henderson, William Hindman, Halie Hollowell, Mandy Hughes, Keegan Jackson, Joshua Jones, Amber Kenemore, Britney McElyea, Brittany McIntire, Darell Melvin, Frederick Mitchell, Kendra Moon, Jeremy Moore, Jessica Nichols, Samantha Norton, Kandon Pate, Hunter Schroeder, Willie Sexton, Michael Sullins, Misty Sugg, Megan Swindle, Selden Smeltzer, Kristal Toland, Caleb Webb, Tabitha Temple, Angelina Villanueva, Shawn Waggoner Arthur City: Heather Detwiler Avery: Elizabeth Wynn Bagwell: William Glass, Sherry Poor Blossom: Kelly Ferguson, Shelby George, Eualalia Gonzalez Brashear: Kyle Belz, Gabriel Rubio Brookston: Wendy Knight, Patsy Mason, Susan Renno Caddo Mills: Samantha Manrique Clarksville: Hannah Brooks, Anthony Hughes, Xavier Richardson, Jeremy Threadgill Como: Brandon Brown, Jennifer Couch, Ginna Hopkins Cooper: Kimberly Detwiler Cumby: Pedro Mendoza Deport: Kimberly Combs Dodd City: Mikel Hughes Emory: Keli Sorrow Garland: Lee Robare Greenville: Kendra Nelson, Austin McDaniel Honey Grove: Dustin Mackey Lake Creek: Joshua Garcia Mount Vernon: Audrey White Pattonville: Jordan Sparks Powderly: Cody Clausius, Montana Conaway, Joyce Hayles, Tiffany Seiber, Patches Simmons Ravenna: Alexia Demay Reno: David Ibarra, Kristen Ince, Hannah Patras, Chris Roberts, Geneva Wheat Roxton: Erica Savage Sulphur Springs: Charlotte Arrington, Sean Arrington, Alicia Bongard, Kjerstie Busby, Keely Chester, Ty Clark, Amber Comer, Scarlett Cordova, Hannah Decker, Susan Dutton, Bryan Everett, Caleb Ferrell, Elizabeth Follis, Stephenie Garrison, Mary Gregory, Sarah Grubbs, Anthony Hagan, Landon Joslin, Michael Kessler, Joanna Killion, Richard Kinnard, Dakota Kirby, Jeffrey Kuykendall, Crystal Matthews, Leah McCord, Alyssa Munoz, Haley Nettles, Shannon Parsley, Mattison Perry, Rhonda Riegel, Tandi Roach, Jackie Roberts, Meldrick Roland, Zella Rubio, Jerry Sanderson, Angelia Smith, Kimberley Thompson, Trevor Tomberlin, Alyssa Torres, Alfonso Vargas, Mary Walker, Hollie Wilson Sumner: Regina Bailey, Edie Clawson, Frances Derr, Eva Fehr, Judy Fehr, Aganetha Ungur, Bradley Willett, Buren Winters Telephone: Alexus Duvall Winnsboro: Gary Brastad Yantis: Kaci Allen, Joseph McKinney Dr. Andrew Fisher, director of PJC — Sulphur Springs Center, gave the benediction. Following the ceremonies, graduates were joined by family and friends in a reception.