At Gordon State College, preparing students for workforce-ready careers is more than a mission. It is a promise fulfilled.

At the Spring 2025 Commencement, two Highlanders who had never met took the stage: one a graduating student with a story of perseverance, the other a healthcare executive and proud alumnus. By the end of the ceremony, one offered the other a future role at a leading hospital. Their shared success began at Gordon, where paths are shaped and futures move forward.

It began with a confession.

Standing before a crowd of classmates, families, faculty and staff, Earnest Lewis took a breath and said, “If there’s anything you need to know about me, it’s this one thing. My fellow classmates, I am a failure.”

The pause that followed was brief but powerful.

Lewis, from Henry County and representing the Class of 2025, didn’t stay with failure for long. He went on to recount his journey from a sick child with a grim diagnosis to a first-year college student grappling with a 0.81 GPA. Now, Lewis is a published author and future medical student with multiple offers in hand. His words drew several to tears and set the tone for a day marked by stories of resilience, grit and the transformative power of the Highlander experience.

Later that morning, alumnus Thomas “Tog” Goss stepped forward. Now the chief operating officer at Atrium Health Navicent in Baldwin County, Goss credited GSC as the place where he first found his footing as a student, a nurse and a leader.

“Gordon gave me more than an education,” Goss said. “It gave me a foundation of grit and purpose that has carried me throughout my career.”

His message to graduates was clear: success is not always a straight line. It is built on values that last, including dedication, resilience and connection. As he reflected on his path from nursing student to healthcare executive, he emphasized the importance of believing in one’s potential and recognizing the support systems that help along the way.

In a full-circle moment, Goss turned to Dr. Donald J. Green, GSC president, with a nod and said, “Make this happen,” referring to getting connected with Lewis to officially secure a spot at the hospital for him.

In one day, two voices, one looking back and the other looking ahead, offered Highlander Nation a powerful reminder. At GSC, dreams do not just take shape. They move forward.