May 9, 2025
Gainesville, GA—Lanier Technical College held its 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony on
May 9, 2025. Following another record-breaking academic year of enrollment, approximately 364
graduates walked through the College’s Hall Campus Quad to receive their certificate, diploma,
or degree from Lanier Technical College President Tim McDonald. College Leadership, Board
Members, Community Leaders, Academic Deans, Instructors, and Staff were all on site to extend
their congratulations to the graduates.
In his address, President, Tim McDonald authored the essence of this commencement exercise,
“I am convinced we are all born with unique gifts and talents. We can only lead fulfilled
lives if we use our gifts in a meaningful way. Today, we celebrate the fact that you have
developed your gifts. You chose a career path you are passionate about, acquired
knowledge, and developed skills that will make our communities a better place to live. You
have an educational foundation that will support all of your future pursuits. It is evident
that you have firmly planted your heart in your career field.”
The heartfelt emotions of this commencement ceremony are more prevalent than ever for
graduates such as Esthetics program Graduate, Stacey Newton-Booker. Newton-Booker already
had a successful career as an oral surgeon, but something deep inside called her to a new
challenge. She explained, “What I learned through this experience was not just the technical skills
of esthetics, but the importance of lifelong learning and the power of stepping outside of your
comfort zone.”
Plentiful stories of finding your passion at Lanier Tech echoed throughout the 2025
Commencement Ceremony. After trying several career paths, Claudel Azor followed his
childhood love for automobiles. Today, he has a clear career path and a new credential from
Lanier Tech’s Automotive Technology program.
Below are the record-breaking numbers acquired by the Lanier Technical College Class of 2025:
Total number of graduates: 1,677
Average program GPA: 3.39
Class of 2025 age range: 15-68
Class of 2025 was part of an all-time enrollment record of 6,929 students set during the fall of 2024,
which became the largest annual enrollment record of over 9,000 students.
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.
