Richmond Community College Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development Steve Smith (left) of Laurinburg was the keynote speaker at the GED and Adult High School commencement ceremony held Thursday night at the Cole Auditorium. He presented the Emma M. Stancil & Captain Walter R. Stancil Jr. Memorial Scholarship to Tod Ward Frazer III of Hamlet who earned the GED Diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

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Forty-eight graduates of Richmond Community College’s Adult High School and GED Diploma program marched in cap and gown Thursday night across the Cole Auditorium stage to receive their diplomas. They were welcomed by RCC President Dr. Dale McInnis, who congratulated them and their families on the work that made the night so special.

RCC Workforce and Economic Development Vice President Steve Smith was the commencement speaker and encouraged the graduates to remember the night and reflect upon it.

“Move forward, but don’t forget your success stories. You also need to minimize the regrets in your life. By getting your GED and Adult High School Diplomas, you have started to minimize your regrets. Now I hope to see you on campus and in our classrooms this fall semester,” said Smith.

Before closing, Smith highlighted a few student scenarios. One graduate is already enrolled at RCC and has been on the President’s List for two semesters. Another moved to Fayetteville, but continued until he finished his GED. A third had gone into the military and is stationed in Colorado.

He encouraged them to not give up during tough times and to love whatever they are doing.

Smith later presented the Emma M. Stancil & Captain Walter R. Stancil Jr. Memorial Scholarship to Tod Ward Frazer III of Hamlet who earned the GED diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

McInnis presented the Rockingham Rotary Club scholarship to Donald Ray Butler of Hamlet, who earned the GED diploma and will be attending RCC this fall.

Barbara Conder presented the Barbara S. Conder Basic Skills scholarship to Alyssa Jordyn Beck of Rockingham, who earned the Adult High School Diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

RCC College and Career Readiness Director Sherry Byrd presented the Basic Skills Race for Literacy Scholarships to Taylor B. Reese of Laurel Hill and Jessica Leanne Tucker of Rockingham, who earned their GED diplomas and will attend RCC this fall.

Rockingham Civitan Club representative and RCC Trustee J.C. Lamm presented a scholarship to Daniel Clyde Ruperd, II of Hamlet, who earned his GED with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

Lamm also presented the RCC Trustees Basic Skills Scholarship to Kayla Dawn Rushing of Rockingham who earned the GED diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

The diplomas were presented by McInnis, Hugh Lee, Steve Smith, and Sherry Byrd. Dr. Jeff Maples with the Richmond County School System and John Teal with the Scotland County School System assisted in presenting the Adult High School Diplomas. Smith conferred the degrees.

Five students from Richmond County received Adult High School Diplomas. They are Tod Frazer III and Daniel Ruperd of Hamlet and Allyssa J. Beck, Kayla Dawn Rushing, and Jessica Leanne Tucker of Rockingham.

Three students from Scotland County received Adult High School Diplomas. They are Hattie Louise Boyd of Laurel Hill and Elizabeth Denise Chavis and Holly Elizabeth Watson of Laurinburg.

Richmond County residents earning GED diplomas are Norma B. Hearne, Jennifer Previtte, Brandy Quick, and Jaclyn Smith of Ellerbe; Robert C. Berry Jr., Amy N. Brigman, Donald Ray Butler, Matthew Currie, Amanda Renee Dockery, Bobby Jones, Allie Nicole Liverman, Morgan Styles Locklear, and Joseph Priest of Hamlet; Latearra Toomer of Hoffman; Zachery K. Blake of Marston; Cameron Miles Baucom, Monica Hannah, Shanita Love, Ashli D. Poston, Loren Hailey Radford, Stephanie Nicole Tuttle, Sarah Leigh Tyler, and Lori Wright of Rockingham.

Scotland County residents earning GED diplomas are Kiyona Lanesha Pate, Taylor B. Reese, and Tiffany Sessoms of Laurel Hill; Shann Cody Berry, Kristy Nicole Carlisle, Tiffany Elliott, Amber Haywood, Laresha Aretha Manning, Kenneth Wayne McDonald Jr., Cody Morgan, Betty Troublefield, and Keila Warr of Laurinburg; Whitney Davis of Maxton; and Tonya C. Scott of Wagram.

Three students from outside the two counties participated in graduation. They are Charles A. Butler of Fayetteville, Diana Nicole Hatcher of Cheraw, and Candace Blair Locklear of McColl.

Over the past year, 212 students earned GED diplomas and 16 earned Adult High School Diplomas.