Peachtree – Three commencement ceremonies worth of Tri-County Community College students finally had the opportunity to walk across the stage after being delayed by COVID-19.
The college held an outdoor commencement ceremony on its campus on the evening of May 7 honoring 460 students from the Classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021, who had to miss out in their commencement due to the pandemic.
About half of the graduates chose to participate in their ceremony. Family members and friends were able to set up lawn chairs in the vicinity of the ceremony.
Tri-County Community College President Donna Tipton-Rogers was unable to attend the commencement, but Board of Trustees Chairman Larry Kernea addressed the students in her place.
“As you all can see, tonight’s ceremony looks a lot different than previous graduation exercises,” Kernea said. “We’re not inside a building. We’re under blue skies. We see green grass. We’ve got plants and trees to look at.”
He also referenced the COVID-19 measures that shaped the way the graduation looked.
“All of that’s important, but I’m thankful that we’re able to have this evening, so thankful for the weather we’re enjoying,” Kernea said.
He said the most important part of the exercises was everyone being able to see one another in person.
“I’m so happy, and this institution’s happy, that we’re able to hold this event in person on the campus for the first time in two years,” Kernea said. “Let’s celebrate.”
Other participants in the ceremony included the Rev. Aud Brown, pastor of Little Brasstown Baptist Church, who gave the invocation and benediction. College associates Bo Gray and Bill Vespasian sang the national anthem as a duet.
Class of 2020 alumna Sierra Wright said the associate’s in business administration degree she received from Tri-County was not her first from the institution.
“This is actually my second associate’s degree,” Wright said. “I actually graduated in the early college program here in 2018.”
Wright said that for the time being she planned to stay in her job as an appraiser with the Cherokee County Tax Office.
“I work with a pretty good set of people,” she said.
Wright was also one of several students who decorated their mortarboards for the occasion, in her case with the logo of the superhero Wonder Woman.
“I just thought that it was kind of appropriate,” Wright said.
Danny Tucker, who graduated with the Class of 2021 in criminal justice, said he was excited to graduate, but more schooling was needed for him to reach his goal of becoming a law enforcement officer.
“Now I’ve got to go back to school,” he said.
While Tucker is entering a career in law enforcement, Rebecca White was making a total career change after 17 years in that field.
“I’m going to open a spa in Andrews,” said White, who graduated in the Class of 2021 with a certificate in esthetics technology.
“It was perfect,” White said.