Three students will be the first to receive Associate Degrees from Helms College during commencement exercises set for Jan. 28.

This milestone ceremony will take place at the Anderson Conference Center, 5171 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. In addition to the three recipients of the Associate of Science in Culinary Arts degrees, 20 students from the Helms College, Macon Campus, will receive culinary arts diplomas from the Polly Long Denton School of Hospitality, while 38 students from Helms Career Institute campuses in Macon and Milledgeville will earn certificates for their education in allied health and salon services. One student also will be recognized for receiving a GED through Helms Continuing Education.

“We’re very proud of all of our graduates, but especially those who persevered to earn Associate Degrees,” said Dr. Shannon McGhee, Director of Student Services for Helms College. “The availability of an Associate Degree represents a major step forward for Goodwill’s post-secondary educational programs as we seek to provide greater access to career opportunities for all of our students at Helms College and Helms Career Institute.”

Keynote speaker for commencement will be Secure Health President Rob Morton, a member of the Goodwill Board of Directors. 

Founded in Macon in 2007, Helms College provides diploma and associates degree programs in culinary arts at the Polly Long Denton School of Hospitality. Helms Career Institute, at Macon’s Riverside Drive campus, provides certificate programs in medical assisting, medical administrative assisting, surgical technician and patient care technician, along with opportunities for education in salon services including massage therapy and nail technician. The Milledgeville campus of Helms Career Institute offers certificate programs in medical assisting, medical administrative assisting and patient-care technician.

All of the programs are nationally accredited and eligible for Title IV funding and VA education benefits, with financial aid available for those who qualify. Enrollment is underway for the next classes, which start April 13. Helms College and Helms Career Institute are subsidiaries of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, with an additional campus in Augusta.

For more information, contact admissions staff from Helms College at (478) 471-4834, or from Helms Career Institute at (478) 785-6866, or go to www.helms.edu and www.helmscareerinstitute.com.

Media coverage is invited for this event as space allows. Goodwill marketing staff members will be available for assistance at the Anderson Conference Center. For information, contact Vicki Mills, Director of Marketing, at (478) 363-1478, or [email protected].