Greenville Technical College celebrates graduates at Commencement

Commencement for Greenville Technical College (GTC) graduates was held at the Greenville Convention Center on Friday, December 20. Included were 342 participants: 8 graduated with a bachelor’s degree, 12 military veterans, 144 graduates with a GPA of 3.4 or higher, and 20 graduates with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Additional students graduated but did not participate in the ceremony, with 1,188 awards presented this semester to 1,085 students.

Two students were honored for academics and community service at Commencement with President’s Awards.

President’s Award recipient Asia “Danielle” Willett, a Paralegal major, enrolled at Greenville Technical College years ago, a time in her life when she didn’t give college her best effort. Lesson learned, she returned, became a model student, and has worked to help others get the most out of their education. She has served as a Peer Leader, helping fellow students access support resources and has served as a student assistant for the Paralegal program, sharing her perspective with new students, the program’s advisory committee, ABA Site Team visitors, and new hires. Danielle has earned all A’s while working for a local law firm that focuses on estate planning and probate administration. The mother of two, Danielle has been invited to become part of the Paralegal program’s advisory committee upon graduation, continuing her service to GTC.

Preparing to join a caring profession, President’s Award winner Sara Griswold sees an opportunity to help others advocate for their health care needs. A member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Sara has participated in craft night with residents at the Phoenix Center and assisted with landscaping at Safe Harbor. Also active with the Students Nurses Association, she has been part of the Minority Health Fair, working to improve health outcomes for underserved populations. She currently volunteers at Pendleton Place, a cornerstone for children and families experiencing foster care, homelessness, poverty, and other forms of trauma. Sara also provides unwavering support and assistance to her classmates, building their confidence and leading by example in order to empower others to invest in their future. As she graduates with an associate degree, Sara has transferred her credits to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Nursing at University of South Carolina with plans to work in her field as she completes the curriculum.