Nicholson Tells PTC Graduates to be Patient, Tenacious, and Compassionate

Approximately 200 students received degrees during two fall commencement ceremonies in December 2023 at Piedmont Technical College (PTC).

PTC Alumna Mamie Nicholson, president of the Self Family Foundation, delivered the public leader keynote address at both ceremonies. She took inspiration from the PTC abbreviation letters, encouraging graduates to be Patient, Tenacious, and Compassionate in their endeavors, noting that she stayed the course through many milestones in college, a focus that began at PTC.

“Here was the beginning of the rest of my life,” she said. “Here I learned to value who I was and who I could be and to know that whatever I chose to do was possible. … I stayed on task, was patient, tenacious, and definitely had compassion for those around me. I still try to exhibit these characteristics in my personal life, in my work life, and in my community.”

Human Services major Jennifer Hammond was the student speaker for the morning ceremony. Her experience at PTC emphasized the importance of tenacity. A nontraditional student at age 40, Hammond is the widowed mother of four for whom the journey has not been easy. Life changed drastically when the family received news of Hammond’s husband Allen’s terminal illness in 2017. She enrolled at PTC and, in the ensuing years, attended classes, endured the 2021 loss of her husband, and survived a mini-stroke. She also changed her major multiple times before finally deciding on Human Services to be an advocate for children as a guidance counselor.

“Two days after my mini-stroke, barely able to move my left side, I attended a virtual class meeting,” she said. “Stroke or not, I was going to win. If I was going to be the voice for children, I had to fight this one and win!”

Cardiovascular Technology major and PTC Presidential Ambassador La’Mar Elmore was the student speaker for the afternoon ceremony. He chose to focus on the heart after a health scare of his own and the implantation of a pacemaker.

“I didn’t understand at the time why this was happening to me, but now it all makes sense,” Elmore said. “It was all a part of God’s plan for me to be able to relate better to my patients because I, too, know how it feels to deal with  heart-related issues, to have echo after echo performed, and to spend nights in CICU wondering what’s to come. My story will encourage the next person that, when trials of life come at you, keep pushing and have faith.”

Below is a list of the graduates from Laurens County.

CLINTON – Nadavea S. Boyd, associate in applied science, major in criminal justice; Angela Reece Cummings, associate in applied science, major in cardiovascular technology, adult echocardiography concentration; Melanie Jean Franklin, associate in applied science, major in human services; *Thomas E. Keadle, associate in applied science, major in general technology, welding concentration; Willis Long, associate in applied science, major in mechatronics technology; Hannah Martin, associate in applied science, major in occupational therapy assistant; *Brandon Gage Mcwatters, associate in applied science, major in mechatronics technology; Kalen N. Richardson, associate in applied science, major in nursing; and Christopher L. Shaver, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing.

FOUNTAIN INN – Roslinda Walker Williams, associate in applied science, major in early care and education.

JOANNA – Melissa Gail Simmons, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing.

KINARDS – Mary Mccumber, associate in applied science, major in business administration, human resources generalist concentration.

LAURENS – Pedro Mateo Andres, associate in science; *Mariano Benjamin Cotoc Riscajche, associate in applied science, major in computer technology, cybersecurity concentration; A’NajhiaT’yanna Fleming, associate in science; *John Robert Gordon, associate in applied science, major inbusiness administration, office management concentration; Kimberly Grant, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing; Bianca Breyuna Massey, diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing; *April Carley Seymore, associate in applied science, major in early care and education; Riley T. Tumblin, associate in science; and Weston Glenn Wilson, associate in applied science, major in general technology, welding concentration.

WARE SHOALS – Jennifer Hammond, associate in applied science, major in human services; **Bryan Leonardo Lopez Perez, associate in applied science, major in mechatronics technology; and Abigail Lynn Madden, associate in applied science, major in early care and education.

WATERLOO – **Jeannie L. Price, associate in applied science, major in administrative office technology, medical concentration.

A full list of graduates is attached separately. To learn more about opportunities at PTC, visit www.ptc.edu.