Georgia Northwestern Technical College will hold the annual GED® Graduation ceremony for the Gordon County Campus Class of 2010 at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Calhoun Civic Auditorium. Gordon County adults who have earned the General Educational Development® Diploma during the 2009-2010 school years have been invited to attend with their families and guests.

The college will present 94 graduates with their GED® Diploma. Of those graduates, 10 will be recognized for graduating with honors, an acknowledgment given to those making a 3,000 or above on their exam.

During the 2009-2010 school year, Michael Johns, a member of the 2009 GED® graduating class and the 2009 EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) representative, was awarded the 2010 EAGLE Student of the Year Award for the state of Georgia at a ceremony in Atlanta in February. Johns is currently a student at the GNTC Gordon County Campus.

The 2010 student speaker for the ceremony will be Curtis Gay, the local EAGLE representative for GNTC Gordon County Campus. According to Spence Ramsey, nominating instructor, Gay was considered a most determined and dedicated student during his tenure at the GNTC Adult Education Department. He is currently a student at GNTC’s Gordon County Campus. Academically, Gay has been on the President’s list on several occasions.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be Justin Baumgardner, the 2010 GED® Wall of Honor recipient. Baumgardner attained his GED® Diploma in 1992. A few months later, he joined the 108th Cavalry unit of the Georgia National Guard where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Baumgardner is currently employed at Plant One of Shaw Industries as an electrician.