Adult High School graduate Malasia Artis receives a high school diploma during the recently held commencement ceremony. (Photo courtesy WCC)
GOLDSBORO — Wayne Community College recently held a ceremony for its Transitional Programs for College and Career (TPCC) graduates.
Individuals received diplomas during the ceremony, marking their completion of the College’s Adult High School (AHS) or High School Equivalency (HSE) classes.
Italivi Morales of Dudley, an AHS graduate, gave the commencement address. The 22-year-old is a single mother of three daughters, the first of which she had at the age of 15. Morales dropped out of high school, but she eventually realized she wanted a better life for herself and enrolled in WCC’s AHS program years later. “I finally found the strength to face the world on my own and begin my new journey,” she said.
Morales admitted to wanting to give up at times but is proud to say she continued on to earn her diploma. She is now enrolled in the College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program and plans to walk across the stage again soon—this time as a law enforcement officer. “To my fellow graduates, I want you to know that you can do anything you put your mind to. Never give up on your dreams,” Morales encouraged.
WCC’s AHS classes are offered for individuals at least 16 years old who want to complete their high school education. HSE classes are offered for adults at least 18 years old to prepare them to take either the GED or HiSET test.
Nyseer Davis of Goldsboro, another AHS graduate, wants to continue the legacy of graduates in his family. “Today’s really special to me because I want to make my family proud,” Davis said. He now plans to join the United States Navy.
At just 16 years old, graduate Hailey Stanhope of Wilson received her diploma early to get a head start in her career. She wants to be a third-grade teacher and will now enroll at Grand Canyon University online. “It feels good that my options are open now, and I’m just thankful,” Stanhope shared.
Jessica Raiford of Goldsboro was excited to graduate in hopes of bettering her career, noting that “a lot of hard work” went into getting her diploma. She is now considering pursuing cosmetology school or a career in the medical field. Raiford would encourage others to return to school as well. “All you have to do is set your mind to it, and you can do it,” she said.
The 89 graduates are as follows:
Adult High School
Emilia Aguilar Aguilar
Malasia Jabrielle Artis
Shy’heim Malik Ashford
Michael Eric Assad, II
Ti’yauna Nichele Batey
Brianna Nyjae Best
Janet Ember Cockrell
Demetriana Nicole Cogdell
Ta’Kiyah Amir Sarai Cox
Nyseer Demure Davis
Ian Nadir Garcia
Edgar Gonzalez
Landon Lee Gray
Linwood Hyden, IV
Auston Robert Hobbs
Diondre’ Tyrese Jones
Kingstun Joshua Gage Kinley
Tequila Tykuan Kornegay
Kylah Nichole Lerch
Bryleigh Mae Long
Mariah Navi Lynden
Landyn Taylor Marter
Lidia Nicole Martinez
Yamika Shanice Matthews
Selina Angel May
Daishawn Ahmad McCoy
Breanna Shannelle Moore
Italivi Meleni Morales
Emily Teresa Morris
Shia Monet Musgrave
Jaylin Marie Overton
Jordan Ashley Phillips
Jessica Deanna Raiford
Aliya Mercedes Rector
Taina Mitchell Reyes
Jared Joseph Servin
Hailey Rae Stanhope
Delnisha Sharerta Washington-Davis
A’Meah Zarielle Wright
High School Equivalency
Michael Joseph Archuleta
Michael Bryant
Latoya Renee Bush
Katelynne Elizabeth Corsette
Ernest Cox
John Kenedy Dorgilus
Monty Dunn
Alex Timothé Eliacin
Princess Faison
Nanette Olivia Foy
Lea Frazier
Steve G. Garner
Paul Grainger
Ayinde Grantham
Carly Jane Haynes
Emily Grace Heath
Armando Henriquez
Najah Nicole Howard
Lee Jolly
Fleshia Jones
Joshua Robert Ladner
Jayden Dacosta-Lawson
Jaime Loa-Gonzalez
James David Maddox
Tommy Lewis Martin
Brendan Lee McIntyre
Cody Thomas Medlin
Timothy Adian Miller
Austin C. Modica
Noel Molina
Sergio Morales-Hernandez
Anna Nehring
Grace Nehring
Alexander Earl Oswald
Ashley M. Pacheco
Tiara D. Raines
Omar Alexander Ramirez-Hernandez
Cassey Ratley
Justin Ratley
Lilly Avalon Rogers
William Santiago
Ciara Snelling
Charles Albert Stephens
Jason Patrick Stoudt
Daphne Julia Sullivan
Allen Manuel Texeira
Travis Tuggle
Damaris Velasco-Escalante
Hunter Ryan Warren
Latoya Yvette Williams
Learn more about TPCC program requirements on WCC’s website.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
