August 27, 2025
Gainesville, Ga—Lanier Technical College’s Adult Education program is the leading provider of literacy education, high school equivalency courses, English language acquisition/citizenship preparation, and adult education tutoring services within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The adult education program is also known for leading the State of Georgia in High School Equivalency (HSE) degrees by the numerous students passing through and graduating each year.
On August 26, 2025, the program held its annual HSE Graduation at the Ramsey Conference Center on Lanier Tech’s Hall County Campus. This ceremony allows graduates to walk in front of family and friends to receive their credentials from Lanier Tech President, Tim McDonald. This day, 95 graduates marched on stage to accept their HSE degrees in person.
Lanier Tech annually appoints an Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Student of the Year. Lanier Tech’s upcoming 2026 EAGLE Student of the Year was officially announced as Josh Bennett of Forsyth County, Georgia. Bennett will spend the next year competing against other TCSG EAGLE students to become the State-Wide Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE Student of the Year.
Notable public figures attending the ceremony included TCSG Board Members, community leaders and college leadership. Keynote Speakers for the evening’s festivities were Dr. Cayanna Good, Assistant Commissioner for The Office of Adult Education for TCSG and Daren Wayne, TCSG State Board of Directors Member.
Dr. Good addressed the crowd, “Graduates, know that you are deserving of this moment. You are worthy of more moments just like this. Over the course of your life, I hope you continue to desire “more”. Because, that is the same energy that got you to this graduation ceremony today. Whatever your “more” might be, I hope that you consider Lanier Technical College as the next step in your journey.”
President, Tim McDonald, cheered for the graduates in-between thunderous applauses, “Everyone in the audience tonight chose to be here because of how inspiring you all are. The accomplishment of earning your HSE Degree will have a lasting impact on you and those around you. I encourage you to continue to strive for success and achieve your next big goal in life.”
The 402 Lanier Tech HSE Graduates from June 2024 until August 2025 are as follows by county:
Banks County: 8, Barrow County 47, Dawson County: 25, Forsyth County: 90, Hall County: 120, Jackson County: 72, Lumpkin County: 40
To learn more about Lanier Technical College’s Adult Education Program, visit their website: https://www.laniertech.edu/adult-education
About the Technical College System of Georgia
The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in more than 600 associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED® testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program, and through its colleges, which work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit TCSG.edu.
