On Friday, Dec. 12, Gordon State College held its Fall 2025 Commencement ceremony honoring 262 graduates from The School of Business and Professional Studies (BPS); The School of Nursing, Health, and STEM (NHS); and The School of Education, Arts, and Humanities (EAH).

“Graduates, you reached a milestone that will shape your future,” said Dr. Donald J. Green, GSC president. “Your degree strengthens your career path, broadens your perspective, and creates opportunities that can influence families for generations. You met this moment through commitment, hard work, and the support of parents, spouses, teachers, staff, and professors. A college degree carries real value, and you earned it through focus and perseverance. Today reflects that effort.”

A total of 262 graduates earned baccalaureate and associate degrees, reflecting a 19% increase from last fall.

President Green recognized several graduates whose distinct paths reflect the many ways students reach this milestone. Each student began in a different place, yet all remained “committed to their goals and advanced toward graduation with steady determination.” Their stories represent the wide range of experiences within Highlander Nation and the resolve that carries students toward new opportunities.

Among those honored was Holton Bell of Monroe County, recognized for his outstanding academic and athletic record. Bell represented GSC at the State Capitol for Academic Recognition Day and previously played on the college’s national champion club football team. Faculty praised his exceptional classroom performance, noting his eligibility for TriBeta, the national biological sciences honor society. Bell will continue his education at the University of North Georgia to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.

President Green also recognized Nina Lum and Robin Jeffress, who returned to GSC with renewed commitment after the loss of their sister, who was weeks away from completing her bachelor’s degree at another University System of Georgia institution. Lum graduates with an associate degree in education and plans to continue toward her bachelor’s degree to become a teacher. Jeffress earns her associate degree in psychology and will pursue a bachelor’s in human services at GSC. Despite additional family losses over the past two years, both remained focused on their goals and encouraged classmates to pursue their own dreams through adversity.

Another recognition honored Tiffany Adams, who earned her Associate of Science in Nursing. Adams balanced the rigorous demands of nursing school while fostering two young children who entered her care during her second semester, in addition to raising her five children and working as an LPN in hospice and home health. Faculty commended her resilience and mentorship to fellow students. Adams and her husband have begun the formal adoption process for the two boys.

The final highlight recognized Alec Green, a non-traditional student completing his bachelor’s degree in business management. Green built a career in entrepreneurship and the airline industry as a flight dispatcher while traveling weekly between Miami and Pittsburgh for work. Seeking advancement, he committed to finishing his degree and credited GSC’s online instruction, faculty support, and affordability for helping him reach this milestone. He plans to pursue a management role with a major airline.

The ceremony also featured alumni speaker Dr. Rabieh J. Hafza, Henry County Schools’ director of STEM and Innovative Practice, who has been nationally recognized as one of the Top 10 STEM Directors in Education for his leadership in expanding STEM opportunities across the district, including robotics and coding.

The School of BPS awarded 58 baccalaureate degrees and 77 associate degrees, totaling 135 graduates. The School of EAH awarded 13 baccalaureate degrees and 37 associate degrees to 50 graduates, while the School of NHS awarded 16 baccalaureate degrees and 70 associate degrees to 86 graduates.

A total of 271 baccalaureate and associate degrees were awarded to graduates. The class also reflected stronger academic momentum, with nine graduates completing multiple degrees, including one who completed three.

“Today you stand as someone’s role model because this achievement is significant. Wake up to it and step forward with confidence. There are lives to support, people to empower, and spaces where your skills and talents matter,” said CaSandra Raines, GSC fall class of 2025 representative, during her speech. “You are wonderfully made, and this accomplishment shows your ability to stay committed and persevere. Continue growing, embrace who you are, and show up to every opportunity with a genuine smile and a steady belief in yourself.”

Following Commencement, fall 2025 NHS graduates were honored in a separate Pinning Ceremony marking their official entrance into the nursing profession. Historians trace the tradition of the nursing pin to the Crusades of the 12th century, and in the 1860s, Florence Nightingale began presenting a medal of excellence to her top nursing graduates. By 1916, it became standard practice in the United States to award each nursing graduate a pin during a special ceremony.