Lanier Technical College Holds 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony

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.