Pictured L-R are Kaitlyn Ayers, Administrative Assistant, WGTC Adult ED; Tammy Wright, Corrections Instructor, WGTC Adult ED; Hank Arnold, Executive Director, Coweta Force; Dr. Jennifer Shearon, Program Director, WGTC Adult ED; Dr. Julie Post, President WGTC; Rebecca Wheeler, Dean, WGTC Adult Ed; Otis Wilson, Warden, Carroll County Prison; and Jackie Lowe, Workforce Instructor, WGTC Adult ED

Carrollton, GA – West Georgia Technical College’s (WGTC) Adult Education department recently hosted a graduation ceremony at a local correctional institution, recognizing the hard work and achievements of incarcerated students committed to furthering their education.

Six individuals earned their High School Equivalency (HSE) diplomas, a major accomplishment that represents a fresh start and new opportunities ahead. Along with celebrating these graduates, WGTC also honored 20 incarcerated men who completed a Small Business and Entrepreneurship training course. This program provided them with valuable knowledge and practical skills to help them pursue meaningful opportunities after their release.

The ceremony featured keynote speaker Hank Arnold, Executive Director and founder of Coweta FORCE, who shared his powerful journey of overcoming incarceration and addiction. Arnold’s inspiring story detailed how he achieved recovery, earned his GED, and pursued higher education to ultimately lead a successful nonprofit organization. His message underscored the transformative power of education and perseverance.

“Education plays a crucial role in reducing recidivism, and I am incredibly proud that our Adult Education program is making a difference in the lives of these individuals,” said Rebecca Wheeler, Dean of Adult Education at WGTC. “By providing access to learning, we are helping these students build a foundation for a better future.”