SCC Holds Workforce Continuing Education Graduation Ceremonies

Sandhills Community College celebrated the achievements of its Workforce Continuing Education students on Tuesday, June 16 with ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Owens Auditorium at the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center. President Alexander “Sandy” Stewart presided over both ceremonies along with distinguished guests and administrators. The welcome was offered by Board of Trustee members Richard Maness at 10 a.m. and Billy Carter at 2 p.m. Bill Caudill played the bagpipes, employee Emily Waldrop performed The Star Spangled Banner, and the Southern Pines Fire Department presented the colors. The keynote speakers were Carol Hough and Tanya McNeill.

“Graduation is not the end of our journey,” said Hough, keynote speaker at the 10 a.m. ceremony. “It is the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities and dreams waiting to be fulfilled. We did not give up. We kept going, one assignment, one exam, and one challenge at a time. And now we are celebrating the results of all those efforts. There will still be obstacles and moments of doubt, but today proves that we are capable of more than we once imagined.”

Hough moved to the United States after being born and raised in Costa Rica until she was twelve years old. After marriage and children, she attended Sandhills Community College and studied Computer Engineering. She was a part-time intern and later hired by the college for a full-time position in the IT department. In addition, she became a citizen of the US after taking citizenship classes at SCC to prepare for the exam. “This class became one of the most valuable experiences of my life. From the first moment I stepped onto campus, I felt welcomed, valued, and, most importantly, that I belonged. SCC became a place where I discovered my potential, built confidence, and found a community that truly cared about my success.”

McNeill, keynote speaker at 2 p.m., shared with students and guests that her life of child rearing, marriage, divorce, and care giving for her grandmother, tested her but she chose to remain committed to her family while not giving up on her educational goals. “I chose Sandhills Community College because it represents more than just education to me – it represents perseverance, opportunity, and growth. SCC was where my journey first began on 2005, and returning here reminded me that no matter how many times life interrupts your plans, you can always start again. The support, encouragement, and opportunities I have found here helped me believe in myself even during difficult seasons of my life. No matter what challenges you face, it is okay to pause – but never give up. Life may test you and even redirect you but your dreams are still valid,” she said to her classmates. McNeill completed the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant program at SCC. She also holds an Associate of Science degree in Healthcare Management from Ultimate Medical Academy, earned in 2018.

Summer 2026 Graduates

English Language Acquisition

Azel Crisostomo-Morales, Micaely Da Silva, *Francisco Goenz, *Dachenie Maxinvil, Ingrid Padilla Caviedes, *Sipaseuth Siharath, *Griselda Domínguez Rodríguez

High School Equivalency

Connor Allen, Jaide Anderson, *Carmen Basile, *T-onna Bell, Austin Bishop, Joey Brady, Anjelina Capps, Dean Capps, Robert Christopher, Chad Colavito, Jacob Day, *Hunter Dennis, *Thomas Griffes, Elijah Jones, Jaden King, Robert Kurschner, Jamie Lockman, Omarion McLean, Dayjah Monet, Emalia Moore, Harold Odom, Malik Ragland, Mason Sessions, Christopher Snuffer, Latesha Taylor

U.S. Citizenship Preparation

Donna Brown, Maria Camila Chica Vargas, Kenia Mills, Dariana Nivar, Yolanda Soto

Emergency Medical Technician Initial

Reagan Arnold, Dianne Bettis, Lane Bormet, Nydreama Brown, Nayely Carrillo, Caroline Carter, Kimberly Chavis, Continnia Coward, Robert Faraco, Todd Folk, Jackson Gagnard, Carson Green, Caroline Guy, Frederick Henderson, Jessica Jones, Selina Lynch, Faith Martin, Valerie Martin, Elijah McClinton, Michael Miller, Kolby Morgan, William Nobles, Alva Orr, Sebastian Richmond, Charlie Scearce, John Silsby, Tanner Smith, Sanura Smith-Willis, Ana Zavala, Isabel Zuniga

Fire Academy

Dustin Adams, Jayden Bell, Brandon Fulwood, Jose Lacsina, Robert Lincoln, Celina Lugo, Travis Nason, Zachary Reaves, Alexander Schmitz, Emily Swardz Derek Veatch

Core, OSHA & Electrical Level 1

Kyle Deleon, Pedro Mendoza, Lauren Moyer

Electrical Level 1

Nikolaus Bussius, David Garcia Perez, Eduardo Garcia Perez, Baran Germany, Jose Grijalva Castanaza, Daniel-James Hatfield, John Hatfield, Louie Inglese, Savion Jackson, Gilberto Malagon, Ma Ocampo, Rasheed Patrick, Christian Pilkauskas, Mayra Rangel, Kyle Ray, Michael Silvas, Taylor Tannehill, Ian Terrill, Jordy Brian Vargas

Electrical Level 2

Alfred Cagle, Aiden Copeland, Jairot Cousten, Kenton Dull, William Flint, Jae Hawksworth, Christopher Hernandez Jimenez, Vasyl Pidopryhora, Kenneth Thompson

Electrical Level 3

Joel Alfaro, Angel Amadis, Julio De la Cuesta Decavi, Cesar Esparza, Ayden Hagins, Mason Muzzy, Emmanuel Parson, Chris Sanchez-Carreto

HVAC Level 1

Jeffrey Boan, Leonardo Jimenez, Tomasz Kosowski, Christopher McCoy, Robert McDougald, Xavier Pettigrew, Myketriay Robinson, Jahmel Ross, Rudy Salgado-Perez, Dominic Smith, Tyrone Thomas, Benjamin Vazquez, Clark Waddell, Hayden White

HVAC Level 2

Stephen Bowden, Cameron Cruz, Travon Davenport, Abiel Demeza-Soriano, Collin Depouli, Duane Jackson, Josue Jimenez-Paso, Jose Matheu, Davensky Maxinvil, Darrell Michener, Thaddeus Morgan, Mason Owens, Herlinda Patterson, Aaron Reed, John Reyes, Geoffrey Smerdon, Clayton Stevens, Emir Vargas, Khris Ward, Jerry White, Nicholas Williams, Adrian Wright

CDL Truck Driver Training

Hunter Dickens, Brandon Hunsucker, Lee Hyder Jr., Tyrell Ingram, Troy Leak, Franklin Leggett, Danny Locklear, Ralin Matthews, Magdalena Miguel, Bryan Myatt, Frederick Rieger II, David Thompson, Tyler Woodell

Welding Level 1

Kelly Bloniasz, Jared Bo, Matthew Boles, Derrick Graham, Aden Honeycutt, Hudson Leebert, Crystal Little, Darren McCollum, Zanodiya McNair, Malachy Oates, Caroline Polley, Todd Tilton, Jermaine Washington

Welding Level 2

Evan Camp, Troy Chadwick, Jacob Jeziorowski, Joshua Michaux, Evan Reaves, Richard Zuniga

EKG Technician

Alisha Brower, Alexandria Bunce, Zariah Chambers, Twana Fairley, Sophia Gualteros, Eleanore Hafer, Jovelyn Hauser, Aubree Jacobs, Ineice Jones, Martha Kovach, Belicia Leath, Joscelyn McDonald, Jakera Rolland, Ebony Sherling, Loren Solomon, Crystal St. Louis, Thomas Stewart, Maiyha Tucker, Brisa Worthy

Electronic Health Record

Bridget Baldwin, Hannah Fletcher, Kimberly Godin, Ebony Polk, Pamela Smith

Medical Administrative Assistant

Georgia Bibey, Viviana Cox, Aalera Hardin, Jade Headen, Ashley Martinez, Dachenie Maxinvil, Nirvana McCauley, Candra McNeill, Tanya McNeill, Ananda Thomas

Medical Assisting Clinicals

Maddie Byerly, Deliah Dennis, Crystal Lopez, Bre’ana Nelson

Medical Billing and Coding

Shelia Abdelwahed, Ashlee Cole, Rakerra Dillard, Elizabeth Eddy, Breanna Howard, Natasha Hunter, Asuante Jackson, Sundiata Jackson, Jamie Jamerson, Deborah Johnson, Heather Leviner, Lacee Locklear, Cynthia McDonald, Melissa Raymond, Kimberly Rodriguez, Kimberly Titus, Victoria York

Ophthalmic Assistant

Luisa Garcia, Jasmin Garcia Carrion, Jennifer Howell, Laura Kjellsen, Kimberly Marshall, Hannah McDonald, Kelvonda Pate, Britney Smith, Ashlyne Smith Cook, Jordan Spearman, Celese Walter

Phlebotomy Technician

Madysin Belton, Tatyana Dowd, Kyonna Jones, Lisa Lapointe, Keisha Locklear, Latisha McLaurin, Aliyah Muhammad, Jazzma Thomas, Myra Villanueva, Amber Winfree

Registered Behavioral Technician

Neelam Bhardwaj, Jessica Billups, Dementria Blue, Cynthia Bowden, Lyndora Day, Ma-K’Lee Diggs, Asia Gibson, Lori Locklear, Jamie McDonald

Central Sterile Processing

Patrice Ashley, Natysha Blue, La Prelle Cocroft, Janee Cole, Kelly Delgado, Lee Dial, Tereney Dowd, Justin Durgadin, Sa’loni Durgadin, Brittanica Feaster, Zola Holifield, Francine Isaiah, Beronica Jaimes Cruz, Kassie Jernigan, Melinda Lewis, Kayla Loyd, Keshia Nicholson, Churhonda Smith, Nia Stanley, Angelina Thibou, Claudine Williams

NC Community Health Worker

Pearl Amofah, Shannon Anderson, Lynel Bowser, Melissa Cowan-Rattray, Joshua Delaine, Missy Riddle

Nurse Aide Level I

Miah Ackerman, Abigail Basham, Jessica Batts, Tamalyn Butterfield, Samantha Cadena, Alyssa Candler, Crystal Cashwell, Bayden Cook, Barbara Davis, Carmelo Ellis-Ortiz, Michael Enright, Ashlyn George, Xavier Gonzalez, Lailana Gosman, Devyani Haye, Eleanor Holman, Brianna Hutchinson, Monica Jones, Aiesha King, Alison Koebrick, Angelina Lamm, Jenna Latimer, Shelby Manzanarez, Christopher McLaughlin, Cynthia Midgette, Latrice Mitchell, Lainey Mullins, Marissa Nance, Andrew Novak, Holly Odonnell, Amari Riley-Ortiz, Keundra Robinson, Camryn Scott, Rona Seiuli, Destiny Spells-Rattley, Martha Stewart, Jesus Venegas, Abbygrace Wiedholz, Christina Wisniewski, Tracy Woodside, Cheyanne Wright, Joshua Wrightson

Pharmacy Technician Training

Sara Bruseghin, Chevonne Bryan, Diana Dallimore, Ayahnie Daniel, William Davis, Cinthya Dunlap, Liam Ewan, Brianne Grosskopf, Juelz Ingram, Tajianna Jackson, Marissa Kimball, Daxton Kimsey, Lily Kube, Aniya Langhorne, Jocelyn Locklear, Jieun Moon, Sentonia Morrison, Savanna Robinson, Shanija Ryner, Dakotah Sands, Katelyn Williams

Special Awards and Recognition

The Sam and Hazel Petty Scholarship

The Sam and Hazel Petty Scholarship was established in 2011 by Mrs. Fredricka Proveaux in honor of her mother, Hazel C. Petty, and her brother, Sam C. Petty. Both Hazel and Sam earned their GEDs and valued the importance of education, perseverance, and personal growth. This scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated determination in overcoming challenges and commitment to achieving their educational goals.

Winners were: Jamie Lockman and Emalia Moore

The Golden Hood Award

The Golden Hood Award is presented to the welding student who has demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship, consistency, professionalism, and attitude throughout the program. This award recognizes an individual who not only produces high-quality welds, but also serves as a positive example in the lab through dedication, work ethic, safety, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The recipients of this award represent the highest standard of excellence in Welding level 1 and 2.

Winners were: Welding Level 1, Malachy Oates and Welding Level 2, Jacob Jeziorowski

Excellence in Phlebotomy Award

The Excellence in Phlebotomy Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated outstanding skill, professionalism, compassion, and dedication in the field of phlebotomy. This award recognizes excellence in venipuncture technique, patient care, safety practices, attention to detail, and the ability to build trust and comfort with patients during the collection process.

Winners were: Kyonna Jones and Lisa LaPointe

National Adult Education Honor Society

The National Adult Education Honor Society (NAEHS) is a national organization founded in 1991 to recognize adult learners who have demonstrated perseverance, dedication, and excellence in their educational journey. It was created to honor powerful stories of determination—individuals who, despite life’s challenges, made the courageous decision to return to school and change the course of their future. Through NAEHS, we not only celebrate academic achievement, but we also support career opportunities, empower students to become ambassadors for adult education, and raise awareness about the importance of lifelong learning in our communities.

* Students marked with an asterik (*) have been selected as recipients of this award.

NAEHS Members

ESL: Dachenie Maxinvil and Francisco Goenz, Griselda Domínguez Rodríguez, Sipaseuth Siharath

HSE: Hunter Dennis, Carmen Jake Basile, T-onna Bell, Thomas Griffes

Photos from the two ceremonies are available on the Sandhills Community College Flickr page.

Registration for Fall Classes is now underway through the Sandhills Community College Workforce Continuing Education webpage.

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