More than 400 get HSE degrees at latest Lanier Tech graduation

By AccessWDUN Staff

Posted 9:30AM on Thursday 28th August 2025 ( 14 hours ago )

Josh Bennett of Forsyth County led 95 adults across the stage at the Ramsey Conference Center on Lanier Tech’s Hall County Campus Tuesday as they received their High School Equivalency (HSE) degrees.

Bennett, the 2026 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Student of the Year, will spend the next year competing against other Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) EAGLE students to become the state-wide EAGLE Student of the Year.

In all, more than 400 adults from seven counties around northeast Georgia received degrees from Lanier Technical College’s Adult Education program that ran from June 2024 until August 2025.

“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,” Lanier Tech President Tim McDonald said. “I encourage you to continue to strive for success and achieve your next big goal in life.”

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.

Here is the breakdown by county of the 402 graduates on Tuesday:

Hall -- 120
Forsyth -- 90
Jackson -- 72
Barrow -- 47
Lumpkin -- 40
Dawson -- 25
Banks -- 8

From left to right: Tim McDonald, Lanier Tech President, Dr. Cayanna Good (Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Adult Education at TCS), Daren Wayne (State Board of Directors Member for TCSG), Josh Bennett, Lanier Tech’s 2026 EAGLE Student of the Year, Shannon Cole (Dean of Adult Education at Lanier Tech), Alla Kucherova, (outgoing) 2025 Lanier Tech EAGLE Student of the Year.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/8/1299658/more-than-400-get-hse-degrees-at-latest-lanier-tech-graduation