Piedmont Technical College (PTC) will hold two fall term commencement exercises on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in the James Medford Family Event Center on PTC’s Lex Walters Campus-Greenwood.

An 11 a.m. ceremony will recognize graduates from our Business, Information Technology, Commercial Art, and Public Service programs. A 3 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates from our Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Engineering and Industrial Technology, and Healthcare programs.

Self Foundation President Mamie Nicholson will deliver the keynote address at both ceremonies. A PTC alumna, she was the first in her family to attend college. Nicholson earned an associate degree in business from PTC. While employed as a legal secretary at Greenwood Mills (owned by the Self Family), she earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Limestone University. She went on to serve The Self Family Foundation as its first program officer. She was named its president in 2020. Nicholson has received many honors and has served in key leadership and governing board roles during her career. She is married to former State Senator Floyd Nicholson. They have three adult sons and two daughters-in-law.

The student speaker for the 11 a.m. ceremony will be Jennifer Hammond, who is receiving an associate degree in human services. She has four children and three grandchildren. After graduation, Hammond plans to begin working toward a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Lander University.

The student speaker for the 3 p.m. ceremony will be La’Mar Elmore, who is receiving an associate degree in cardiovascular technology, adult echocardiography concentration. He chose PTC because of the Cardiovascular Technology Program and his own experience of having to receive a pacemaker and defibrillator device at the age of 26. He is a PTC Presidential Ambassador and currently works as an Echo Sonographer at Self Regional Healthcare.

Security is a priority at all PTC graduation ceremonies, and guests will be required to walk through a weapons-detection scanner and are encouraged to leave unnecessary items in vehicles. Umbrellas and balloons will NOT be allowed into the event. Any bags carried into the Medford Center must be made of clear plastic.

The Emerald City Brass will provide musical entertainment. This is a ticketed event. Each individual ticketholder, including children, will be entitled to one seat only.