PTC to hold spring commencement exercises on Thursday, May 2
April 17, 2024
Piedmont Technical College (PTC) will hold two spring term commencement exercises on Thursday, May 2, 2024, in the James Medford Family Event Center on PTC’s Lex Walters Campus-Greenwood.
An 11 a.m. ceremony will recognize graduates from our Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Healthcare programs. A 3 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates from our Business, Information Technology, Commercial Art, Public Service, and Engineering and Industrial Technology programs.
Justin Benfield, chief executive officer of Prisma Health’s Laurens County and Hillcrest Hospitals, will deliver the keynote address at both ceremonies. Benfield also serves as executive lead for Prisma Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute as well as the system’s rural health and surgical robotic strategies. Before joining Prisma Health in 2010, he served as administrator at Carolina Cardiology Consultants and director of invasive cardiology at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. He currently serves on the Ten at the Top and PTC Foundation boards and has served on Greenville and Laurens counties’ United Way boards. In 2023, Benfield was recognized as a top 25 Executive in South Carolina by C-suite Spotlight.
The student speaker for the 11 a.m. ceremony will be Jayce Gonzalez of Ninety Six, who will receive an associate degree in radiologic technology. Gonzalez grew up with the late PTC student Gavin Trulove, in whose memory two radiologic technology scholarships were established. He imbued in her a passion for his beloved PTC Radiologic Technology Program, and she will hold his memory close as she walks the graduation stage. She currently works PRN as an X-ray technologist extern at Self Regional Healthcare.
The student speaker for the 3 p.m. ceremony will be Twanisha Cofield of Laurens, who is graduating summa cum laude with an associate degree in human services. After working as a nurse for 10 years, she enrolled in the Human Services Program to reinforce and diversify her purpose of helping people. In her new career, she would like to make a difference in the lives of children in need. Working full-time while attending classes, Cofield has been the recipient of the Start-to-Finish Award from the HUS Program, is secretary of the HUS Club, a member of the National Technical Honor Society and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
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.
