Dunia Sanchez’s journey took her from Cuba to Wiregrass and graduation with her Associates in Science in Nursing.
She’s now an RN at South Georgia Medical Center.

Valdosta, GA – Wiregrass Georgia Technical College held the Spring and Summer 2019 Commencement Exercises on Thursday, July 11 at the UGA Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The ceremony honored 1135 students who were awarded their associate degree, diploma or technical certificate of credit as well as 113 GED® graduates. Among those graduating, the college awarded 155 Associate Degrees, 244 Diplomas, and 1,248 Technical Certificates. Some students received Technical Certificates in multiple areas.

For one graduate in particular, this graduation ceremony meant celebrating another milestone in a student’s journey in America after leaving her home county. Dunia Sanchez Izquierdo graduated with her Associates of Science in Nursing. Her journey started years prior when she was still living her native country, Cuba. Growing up there as a child she was always fascinated by the doctors and nurses and how they would help others in need. After moving to the United States, she was enrolled in school at Brooks County High School where she had several key teachers who encouraged her to follow her dreams in the medical field. Her first step was to learn English, and as fast as she could. As her high school graduation got closer, she began to apply for scholarships and grants to help her start her college education, and was awarded a scholarship that allowed her to attend Wiregrass Tech. In Spring of 2012 she became the first member of her family to graduate from college earning a diploma in Medical Assisting.

While working for a local cardiologist, Dr. Sid Staton, both he and his nurse, Nancy Stalvey, RN., encouraged her to continue her education and pursue her RN degree. Her next journey found her saving money, continuing to perfect her English and applying to Wiregrass again. She applied for financial assistance and learned she qualified for a WIOA Scholarship that would pay for her RN degree. “When I think about my time and experience at Wiregrass, I find it hard to put into words how this college has changed my life,” shared Dunia. “My instructors were paramount in my education and took this little ball of clay and molded me over and over again until I had mastered each skill and achieved each goal.” Each step of Dunia’s journey has been a celebration of seeing great accomplishments: learning a new culture, a new language, and receiving and education. She is currently an RN at South Georgia Medical Center in the Dasher Heart Center Cardiopulmonary Unit. “Nursing school can be very challenging in many ways. I definitely can say that after leaving my country, culture, language, my entire family and all my friends back home, “nursing school” was definitely the hardest of all to do,” shared Dunai. “But, everything was worth it!”

Wiregrass is proud to announce the Spring and Summer 2019 graduates for technical certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees listed below by county:

(Atkinson) Nayeli Aguilar, Norman Batten, Sarai Bernardino, Royce Bryant, Wynter Bryant, Dalton Burkett, Shanterica Butler, Gloria Carachure, Rut Cardenas, Ladasheuna Coleman, Berenice Colmenero, Harley Crews, Jacqueline Cruz, Dulce De Leon, Martavius Dennis, Mackenzie Dillingham, Sabra Dockery, Jacqueline Fuentes, Emilia Gomez, Gavin Hall, Jasmine Hall, William Hamilton, Ernesto Herrera, Corey Lewis, Levi Lott, Serena Martinez, Abilene Mendoza, Jacquelyn Mitchell, Clayton Mizell, Juan Montalban, Kirsten Morrell, Yajaira Oropeza, Justin Peach, Salem Peeples, Karen Perez, Lizzy Perez, Marilin Perez, Dumonta Perry, Wendi Powell, Berenice Ramirez, Kristina Ramirez, Rubi Ramirez, Anai Reyes, Luis Rodriquez, Libni Rojas, Cameron Smale, Emilee Soles, Priscilla Sosa, Kendall Spivey, Haley Swanson, Alyssa Taft, Charity Titshaw, Jennifer Vega, Eden White, Beau Wildes, Martika Wooten, and Aliyah Zimmerman
(Ben Hill) Lewis Alexander, Marian Allen, Diana Alligood, Keirra Andrews, Shawn Andrews,Savannah Bahin, Brittney Bass, Jefferson Bedford, Kyndell Bouslog, Gary Branch, Keely Branch, Anna Carver, Marva Clark, Jimmy Cleghorn, Jessica Coney, Keosha Cooper, Sheena Crosby, Michael Cunningham, Benjamin Donnelly, Austin Enfinger, Adam Fountain, Michael Graham, Jennifer Guerra, Logan Guy, Jacqueline Harper, Taylor Harper, Sharetha Hillman, Chelsea Johnson, Ashley Jones, Shamia Jordan, Billy King, Krista Knowlton, Donya Land, Gloria McCrimmon, Sydney McDonald, Dawn Moore, Edith Morgan, Zachary Morrison, Devan Murrhee, Teontra Nesbitt, Abbagale Olds, Alli Oliver, Dawson Pelham, Ici’onna Price, Malcolm Pyles, Kaitlyn Rich, Scotti Roberts, Courtney Rogers, Jackson Ryals, Timeka Sams, Bernaris Shelton, Deon Smalls, Ethan Smith, Tishara Smith, Grant Stephens, Brittany Stinchcomb, Jordan Taylor, Ramiyah Telfair, Justin Thompson, Dartavious Tomblin, Thomas Vafias, Brittany Veal, Jacob Warren, Michelle Warren, Hillary Webb, Landon Webb, Autumn Wilkes, Candace Wilson, Jakya Wimbley, Leah Yarbrough, Kelsie Yawn, Austin Young, and Morris Zeininger
(Berrien) Avery Allen, Christopher Andruschkevich, Ayla Barlow, LeAnn Beville, Glenn Capps, John Carter, Valeria Connell, Candace Cook, Laura Croft, Madison Davis, Erik Dieas, Melissa Edwards, Elsie Gonzalez, Nyjha Harris, Shae Holland, Ashton Hughes, Kelsie Hunt, Lindsey Lanier, Kendyl Lindsey, Jeannette Mathews, Nicolaus Mintz, Ethan Moore, Kayla Morgan, Sarah Osborne, Teria Peebles, Brittny Perez, Isabella Rossy, Brooke Russell, Jessica Sullens, Joshua Trowell, Brian Tucker, Yasmine Tucker, Deidra Warren, Samantha Watson, and Kenyatta West
(Brooks) Georgia Clements, Anthony Colley, Ricardoe Collins, Sebastian Davis, Erica Dennard, LaKeshia Denson, Dexter Donaldson, Christopher Godfrey, Brittany Hysmith, Haley Hysmith, Andrew Jackson, Brianna Johnson, Ashley Lukens, Riley McDowell, Marje’ Mosley, Ronald Neloms, Dani Ramos, Colby Ross, Madison Sapp, Cheyanna Shelley, Deborah Slater, Brianna Smith, Eloise Still, Brittany Van Zandt, Mason Williams, Tamira Williams, Sharyna Wilson, and Debra Wisenbaker
(Clayton) Kiara Lewis
(Clinch) Bryce Ballance, Kelly Grady, Chad Jones, Tiffany Lewis, Conner Morris, Mandy Neely, Brittney Smith, Summer Smith, Ernest Taylor, and Jordan Tiner
(Coffee) Trinity Ackerman, Ariel Adams, Ann Alexander, Armoni Anderson, Daniel Anderson, Megan Anderson, Latorya Armour, Gabriel Arnold, Sergio Avalos, Zy’Kevius Bailey, Bryce Banks, Cassandra Banks, Zachery Belcher, Anitra Blackshear, Damion Bonaparte, Clinesha Brockington, Jorja Bryant, Devin Burke, Laytonya Butler, Londrell Campbell, Corey Carver, Ashly Castaneda, Alejandro Castro-Ortega, Robert Cato, Linda Cervantes, Koriyunta Colson, Shekoyia Conley, Angelica Contreras, Damien Cook, Savannah Cothern, Ethan Courson, Landon Courson, Jordan Crews, Qwa-nysia Crockett, Nayeli Cuello, Trevante Curtis, Brittan Davis, Antonio Dawson, Ashlee Deen, Johnathan Deen, Kimberly Douglas, Destiny Durham, Mercedes Esmeralda, Zhadrianna Flagg, LeFronzi Floyd, Benjamin Foskey, Dillan Gray, Jaden Gray, William Griffin, Jadyn Guthrie, Kylee Harper, Ke’Asia Harrell, Jerry Harris, Nathan Hattaway, Dyanna Hayes, Damaris Hernandez, Osbaldo Hernandez, Tiffany Hersey, Tyechia Hill, Carly Holbrook, Nyjeeri Holland, Destiny Hollinger, Essence Howard, Angela Howell, Nathanael Huelett, Elizabeth Hunt, Fredrick Ingram, Lexoutica Jackson, Naomi Jefferson, Jeanerie Johnson, Zaria Johnson, Tom Jones, Jaheim Killebrew, Josiah Killiebrew, Kyle Kovaleski, Lakresha Lanier, Sarah Lawson, Nyla Leggett, Anessia Lewis, Alyssa Lott, Harrison Lott, Daniela Lugo, Travius Mack, Natalie Maddox, Amber Massey, Briseyda Mazariegoz, Braxton McAllister, Alyia McDonald, Nicholas McDuffie, Johnny McFatten, Kenneth Meredith, Ethan Merritt, Halley Merritt, Jesse Merritt, Jontavius Mincey, Dieasha Mobley, Ivory Moore, Jacob Music, Edvin Najarro, Rakera Odums, Emma Olliff, Diana Ortiz, Kiara Pace, Daisy Pacheco, Karina Pacheco, Marshanti Paulk, Ethan Peacock, Daisy Perez, Brandon Phillips, Felipe Pinzon, Jr., Michael Pittman, Cassandra Powell, Aliyah Preston, Jonathan Ramirez, Brice Ray, Eric Ray, Morgon Reynolds, Grace Ring, Alexis Rish, Matthew Roberts, Stacy Rodriquez, Susana Rojas, Calvin Rollins, Milyn Roundtree, Kendall Royals, Katarina Serrano, Katie Shatto, Aaron Smith, Angelique Smith, Ashley Smith, Eric Smith, Shelvy Smith, Zachery Smith, Jenna Spivey, Tiffany Spruce, Kaylee Stevens, Anthony Stewart, Isaiah Styles, Te’nia Styles, Joshua Tanner, Matthew Teston, Heath Thompson, John Thurman, Cha-nyai Traylor, Brandon Trowbridge, Kyla Tucker, Patience Vaughn, Halie Vick, Kate Vickers, Marcia Vowell, Molly Waldron, Chase Westberry, Jade White, Diamond Williams, Nycosha Williams, TyKerra Williams, Cheyanne Wilson, Anslie Wright, Halen Wright, Tyterionna Wright, Zulma Zepeda
(Colquitt) Aurea Arroyo, Lorena Barajas, Stephen Cole, Jacquelyn Dorsey, Dana Hernandez, Alexander Lozano, Austin Phillips, Isaac Spence, Meghan Strickland
(Cook) Michelle Arnold, Karina Arteaga Trejo, Tarinda Baker, Lexy Barron Hernandez, Jasmine Batts, Karina Bautista, Carley Brady, Alyson Brannon, Se’Neiyah Brown, Jada Byron, Brittni Castro, Matthew Dobbins, Chelsea Gandy, Rachel Garcia, Tamia Gholston, Elliot Gilson, Emily Hayes, Olivia Holcomb, Christopher Holton, Jayla Inman, Jennifer Jones, Christopher Lissimore, Dayji Mack, Shemerica Mason, Krista Mathis, Eric McCall, Zedricka McNorton, Shaderria Merritt, Suzette Mitchell, Anna Moore, Gloria Morris, India Perry, Joseph Roberts, Joy Sexton, Louisa Spencer, Shantoria Todd, Korey Tyson, Jessica VanAvery, Jada Walton, Monique Williams, Megan Wolfe, and Lisha Woods
(Dade) Tia Chinnery
(Dekalb) Rodriquez Carter
(Doughtery) Emily Anderson, Crystal Parker, Megan Regan
(Echols) Connie Carter, Manual Delgado-Renteria, Elizabeth Estrada, Chance Maine, Makayla McGhee, Victor Morales, Kaycee Pafford, Griselda Sanchez, Vanessa Serrano, Jessica Tutt
(Florida) Amy Atkinson, Barbara Caldwell, Kali Tanner
(Forsyth) Cason Robbins
(Houston) Morgan Ballard
(Irwin) Ashley Anderson, Michael Anderson, Matt Busbin, Sierra Dixon, Danny Doggett, Santiago Garcia, Jace Goodman, Krystle Greer, Mary Hall, Elizabeth Hampton, Ricky Harris, Patricia Hilton, Kimberley Jones, Elizabeth Leggett, Theda Lewis, Logan Livingston, Charity Martin, Ariel McKinney, Austin Mouser, Tasigua Parr, Austin Pettis, Devan Reliford, Dominick Ross, Kelsea Taft, Candice Thomas, Hannah Thompson, Gera Tyson, Dustin Ussery, Miriam Wilcox, Daniel Yawn
(Jeff Davis) Vaneda Chavez, Austin Gillen, Mattie Lynch, and Lane Vickers
(Lanier) Taylor Adams, Holden Albritton, Brandy Bradford, Curtis Cain, Stephanie Cox, Emma Dube, Courtney Flowers, Megan Jarosz, Hannah Kelley, Samuel Ledford, Nicholas Locklear, Sidney Meade, Scarlet Moore, Amber Parton, Haleigh Sirmans, Thomas Trigg, Alexis Warren, Charity Williamson, and Christian Wright
(Lowndes) Arthur Adams, Naseem Afilal, Tommy Aldridge, Delexsia Alexander, Bobbie Allen, Nia Allen, Jamayia Arnold, Shirley Arnold, Tatianna Banks, Belinda Battle, Lauren Belflower, Benjamin Bennett, Christle Bennett, Devonta Berrien, Nicholas Bishop, DeShonyia Bivins, Anaya Blair, Alexus Bonner, Jeffery Bowser, Ja’Mayah Bozeman, Heather Brady, Zykeria Brantley, Iesha Bridges, Augusta Brinson, Steven Bristow, Carl Brown, Jacquez Brown, Marcus Brown, Mariah Brown, Sarah Brown, Shatara Brown, Tamia Brown, Andrew Bruce, Chadia Bruton, Tinaijsha Bruton, Sterling Bryant, Charles Burleson, Ciera Burroughs, Deandrae Bush, Donald Carey, Jr., Katia Carlos-Gomez, Laterrica Carter, Nicholas Carter, Robert Carter, Travis Carter, Laval Castleberry, Ilse Chavez, Meghann Clark, Tatiana Cobbs, Don Cole, Brianna Coleman, Alexis Collins, Michael Colter, Ever Contreras, Callie Coombs, Andrew Cooper, Michael Cooper, Maryann Cowart, Elizabeth Cribbs, Bridget Crudden, Jennifer Cumbus, Lloyd Cummings, Caitlin Curran, Solomon Curry, LaTonya Daniels, Trevian Daniels, Aneesa Davis, Kore Davis, Michele Davis, Morgan Davis, Tamia Davis, Tinesha Davis, Alden Dawkins, Shaquela Dawson, Brian Day, Andrea DePasture, Nicholas Diamante, Trennedy Dixon, Chad Douglas, McKenzie Dye, Presley Earle, Chad Eason, Jamecia Edwards. Michaela Edwards, Lindsay Ellenberg, Cynthia Ellis, Kiara Ellison, Chrislyn Evans, James Everett, Kishia Farley, Erica Faulk, Jeremiah Finnissee, Emily Fisher, Shannon Fleener, Decia Flowers, Porchia Flowers, Denise Foss, Gary Fountain, Justin Francis, Jonathan Frazier, Javonta Freeman, Patricia Fricke, Allie Gaines, Ernestina Garcia Cantera, Michelle Gemma, Elizabeth Gensler, Nancy George, Ny’Keria Gervin, Talarie Giddens, Sierra Goethe, Aciena Golden, Alisa Goodson, Brianna Gosier, Traci Gosier, Tommy Graddy, Pashon Graham, Liesett Grant, Joshua Gray, Timarius Gray, Katrina Greene, Clifford Greer, Alexis Griffin, Joseph Griffin, Pernell Griffin, Amber, Griner, Chase Groh, Jonathan Gunter, Ausencia Gutierrez, Darryl Hall, Brianna Hamilton, Unessee Hargett, Vincent Harrell, Wyatt Harrell, Nyeisha Harris, Tyeisha Harris, Kweisi Harrison, Sarah Harrison, Travis Hart, Britney Hawbaker, Taylor Hayes, Dajeriha Hazzard, Jameka Head, Tiera Henderson, Jordan Herring, Rebekah Herring, Don Hill, Megha Hill, Kaitlin Holland, Devonta Holmes, DaNayasia Holt, Arriyon Hope, Alyesha House, Alicia Hugley, Joshua Hunt, Sherya Hunter, April Hyman, Charlotte Jackson, Latara Jackson, Latorria Jackson, Lavonia Jackson, Sequoia Jackson, Sharon Jackson, Temira Jackson, Tre Vion Jackson, Katerri Jacobs-Brown, Faith James, Rachael Jankowski, Travis Jarrett, Sean Jeffries, Kaleb Jenkins, Tasha Jenkins, Erica Jeter, Raeanna Jilcott, Tyler Johns, Briana Johnson, Cameron Johnson, Casey Johnson, Darrel Johnson, Harold Johnson, Kelsea Johnson, Kennedy Johnson, Kiana Johnson, Marianna Johnson, Montgomery Johnson, Willie Johnson, Aleesha Jones, Christian Jones, Costigan Jones, Dorothy Joseph, Jessica Justice, Brianna Kelch, Kellen Kent, Kourtney Kent, Shellcey Kersey, Aisha Kinch, Jakiera King, Stephanie Kinneman, James Kirk, Kristin Kohr, Jeffery Kraushaar, Amber Kreiser, Abby Lane, Tiannah Larkins, Tiarrah Larkins, Matthew Larson, Rardrekous Latson, Brandi Ledbetter, David Lee, Kylah Lee, Lindsey Lee, Lisette Lehman, Savannah Lehman, Charmina Lewis, Derrick Lewis, Lacoria Lewis, William Lewis, Ti’Geronika Lindsey, Jamilyah Little, Jaleel Lockridge, Clara Long, Alexander Lovelace, Sharronda Loyd, Joseph Lucarino, Brittany Luke, Yesenia Luviano, Anthony Major, Jacquelyn Mallard, Gamaliel Maltez-Garcia, Thomas Manus, Tyonah Mapp, Candice Marberry, April Marcum, Lavella Marshall, Alexander Martin, Janiah Martin, Erica Martinez, Vanessa Mason, James Massengale, April Matthews, Flora Maxwell, Stephanie McAfee, Joshua McBride, Ayanna McCoggle, Jaysen McCook, Jayla McCrory, Alden McDonald, Cody McDuffie, David McEnaney, Anna McFarlin, Luke McIntosh, Sharon McKinnon, Dwight McLeish, Dwight McLeish, LaQuandra Merritt, Lasharra Merriweather, Alexsandra Meshoto, Angela Miller, Madison Miller, Shayla Miller, Shelley Miller, Ashley Mitchell, Daniel Mitchell, Armani Mobley, Kristy Montgomery, Alexis Moody, Margaret Moore, Victoria Moore, Kessiny Neal, Myja Nelson, Porsha Newkirk, Jon Nijem, Dedrick Norman, Acacia Oldsen, Hunter O’Neal, Secunda Onuegbu, Zackary Orr, Shannon Pangborn, Hatel Patel, Cody Peeples, Jason Peters, Shandrieria Pettaway, Kasey Phelps, Emani Pierce, Jakayla Pigford, Bobby Pittman, Carson Poindexter, Ikira Pope, ShaDawn Powell, Jasmine Pressley, Eden Purvis, Hannah Rayburn, Kaylee Ready, Don Reeves, Alicia Reid, Dexter Reynolds, Donnisha Reynolds, Mark Richardson, Kenneth Roberson, Ester Robinson, Makenzie Robinson, Veronica Robinson, Xiomora Roca, Colin Rodrigues, Grace Rodriguez, Monica Rodriguez, Leslie Roehm, Caitlyn Rollins, Sanchina Rose, Jason Rowan, William Rozier, Angela Sams, Izabelle Sanchez, Andrew Sanders, Prisciliano Santiago, Cemone Scott, Tyler Seacrist, Jarred Sermons, Larry Sheffield, Keith Sherouse, Ronald Shoemake, Sabrina Sicoli, John Slappy, Alisha Smith, Christopher Smith, Delana Smith, Hannah Smith, James Smith, Kailee Smith, Kemari Smith, Melinda Smith, Rachel Smith, Scott Smith, Vivian Smith, Brandon Spires, Kristy Spires, Ashley Spurlin, Jennifer Starr, Aimee Staten, Adrienne Storey, Alarriah Stout, Kady Strickland, Robert Strickland, Joshua Stubbs, Terrence, Stubbs, Shane Sutton, Rose Sysskind, Jai Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Brandon Tebedo, Alicia Thomas, Blake Thomas, Darreona Thomas, McKenzie Thomas, Tahneka Thomas, Benjamin Thornhill, Ramiyah Tillman, Keri Tompkins, Zack Trimboli, Kristin Triplett, Colton Tripp, Yolanda Tuggerson, Ja’Len Tunsil, Megan Turnage, Taumaz Turner, Fredreonna Ulee, Ericka Uneless, Rebeca Urquilla, Kimberly Vargas, Millie Vargas, Julisia Vega, Joshua Velasquez, Ja’Kerria Wade, Nakiuma Wade, Shamariye Wade, Carl Walker, Candice Ward, Daniel Washabaugh, D’Erika Washington, Harold Washington, Jordan Washington, Jamesha Watson, James Watt, William Weber, Mary Welch, Caleb Wells, LaVida West, Tangenika West, Kayla Whilden, Shameka White, Yasmine White, Jayela Wiley, Mirycle Wilkerson, Abeni Williams, Alvin Williams, Darren Williams, Emmanuel Williams, Laila Williams, Woodrow Williams, Ashanti Wills, Lataunia Wilson, Alexis Winston, Shaneka Winston, Callie Witherspoon, Mikayla Woodin, Alisa Wright, Janiah Wright, Jordan Wright, Paul Wright, Tyana Young, Jizelle Zarco, JaKiera McNair, Konstience Turner, Christopher Rios
(Pulaski) Brian Holmes
(Quitman) Daniel Coulter
(Randolph) Haley LaHood
(Rockdale) Adel Moran
(Telfair) Daisy Coronel, Madison Seabolt
(Tift) Alexis Akins, Bethany Barber, Marleshia Davis, Amanda Freeland, Zachary Mangelsdorf, Kathleen Williams
(Turner) Dagan Askew, Joseph Ezekiel, Thristan Hall, Makalah Harris, Meagan Krause, James Medford, Haley Nixon, Steven Sauls
(Ware) Hyson Hulett, Sawyer Lee, Katheryn Strickland, MacKenzie Woodard, Chrystal Young, Lauren Youngblood
(Wilcox) Sheldon Adams, Steven Arbegast, Jared Black, Brannon Calhoun, Samuel Clements, Terri Gibbs, Aaron Harrell, Willena Harrell, Elijah Harris, Owen Harris, Marvin Ibarra, Brittany Mullis, Mark Musslewhite, Logan Phillips, Lauren Swain, Morgan Williford
(Out of State) Shannah Carlock, Alana Frederick, Christopher Harris, Zachary Hooks, Lauren Thrasher