On Tuesday, April 22nd a reception was held to recognize and honor O’Naria Youngblood and Tommy Floyd for their tremendous accomplishments and for their dedication to serving as loyal college ambassadors.

O’naria Youngblood is a 72 year young college student who came to ATC to first, earn her GED and is now enrolled in the Business Office Technology program.  O’naria stated that she and her husband were very successful business people in Ludowici.  She dropped out of high school because her mother became very ill and she had to help raise the children in the family.  “Not having a GED is like having an incomplete chapter in a book, something that nagged at me – and I decided it was time I do something about it.”  O’naria was awarded one of only two Golden Eagle Awards at the state level receiving the honor at the annual banquet and has committed to serving as an ambassador to encourage others to attend college to earn their GED. 

Tommy Floyd shared that his physical strength is what made him successful – until his physical strength gave out.  Tommy shared that he wasn’t aware how much he relied on his physical strength until he lost it – not being able to do the type of work that supported his family for decades put him at a real loss both financially as well as emotionally.  And then reality hit as most employers, now days, required a high school diploma or GED.  “That’s when I realized I had to take care of earning my education.  Taking that first step was the hardest – but it also made me so proud that I was able to face the challenge,” shared Tommy.  Upon earning his GED, Tommy plans to pursue the Electronics Technology program.  Tommy earned that Eagle award at the Georgia Eagle Leadership Conference and has also agreed to serve as an ambassador.  Tommy currently serves as a mentor at the prison – encouraging inmates to pursue an education upon their release.  Tommy continued, “An education will set their life on a straight path – and once you earn your education, no one can take it away from you!”