On December 11, 2025, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) held two Commencement ceremonies in Bainbridge in honor of the graduates who completed their programs during the fall semester of 2025. The ceremonies recognized the accomplishments of over 400 graduates, with 282 graduates in attendance. The graduates’ friends and family members filled the Student Wellness Center gym to capacity, celebrating the class of 2025.

SRTC’s graduation ceremonies were a day of awarding degrees, diplomas, and certificates to students who had completed their respective credit programs or high school equivalency credentials. Many graduates received multiple honors, as several programs include embedded certificates that students earn in the course of completing a program.

The commencement speaker was Kellie Odom, SRTC’s 2025 Alumni of the Year. Odom currently serves as Director of Nursing at Archbold Medical Center, where she has built a distinguished 32-year career in healthcare leadership. Her journey began at SRTC, then known as Thomas Technical Institute, where she earned her Licensed Practical Nurse certification in 1993. That foundation launched a remarkable career marked by continuous professional growth and dedication to patient care.

Throughout her tenure at Archbold, Odom has held numerous leadership positions, including Director of Risk Management, before assuming her current role in 2013. Her commitment to education mirrors her professional excellence. She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Darton College, followed by both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Nursing from Thomas University. Most recently, Kellie received her Chief Nurse Executive Certification from Emory University Goizueta Business School.

A passionate advocate for technical education, Odom credits SRTC with providing the essential foundation for her nursing career and maintains close relationships with the instructors who mentored her. In 2015, she received the Outstanding Leadership and Achievement Award from Thomas University in recognition of her contributions to healthcare leadership. Earlier this year, Odom was honored as a Distinguished Alumni Award winner by the SRTC Foundation during its "Comedy for a Cause" event on February 15, 2025, at the Biscuit Company in Thomasville. She also serves on the SRTC Practical Nursing Advisory Council.

SRTC President Jim Glass thanked the graduates in attendance for choosing Southern Regional Technical College and extended his appreciation to the gathered family and friends for supporting the students during their college journey. He encouraged the students to continue to work hard and take the lessons that they have learned at SRTC with them as they move forward in their education and their careers.

Southern Regional Technical College offers over 150 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get students quickly into their desired careers, and 38 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in eleven counties across Southwest Georgia for the convenience of its students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, interested individuals can log on to www.southernregional.edu or call (888) 205-3449.

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