Over 100 students earned high school diplomas through Wayne Community College’s Transitional Programs for College and Career (TPCC) and were honored at a graduation ceremony on campus.
The graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas and turned their tassels, signifying the transition from students to graduates.
Individuals completed WCC’s Adult High School (AHS) or High School Equivalency (HSE) classes. AHS classes are offered for individuals at least 16 years old who want to complete their high school education. HSE classes are provided for adults at least 18 years old to prepare them to take the GED or HiSET test.
One student, Perla Villa-Proa, was excited to finally graduate. She has been working toward earning her high school diploma since February and now plans to take college classes in WCC’s Business Administration program.
Farrad Edwards was also proud to reach an educational milestone. “It feels good,” he said about completing high school. Reflecting on his journey from kindergarten to graduation day, Edwards said he has learned so much and is glad he was able to finish strong at WCC. “I keep telling my friends to come here to finish their high school education, too,” he said.
Briana McClendon, another graduate, gave the commencement address. “Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for,” she said. “This moment marks the beginning of something great.”
At 20 years old, McClendon admitted that her path to graduation wasn’t easy. She became a mother at 16 and dropped out of high school. McClendon returned to school in 2022 while also juggling work and motherhood, but her life took a turn the following year. “I dropped out again, ended up homeless, and started working two jobs just to survive,” she said.
As a single mother, McClendon was motivated to persevere and reach her educational goals to set a good example for her daughter. “She is the reason I pushed forward every single day and the reason I had to grow up so fast,” she said. “I wanted to give her the world.”
McClendon enrolled at WCC and completed her high school education. “I kept going when it seemed impossible. I faced doubts from others and from myself, but here I am, and I’m proud,” she said. She now plans to join the United States Air Force. “You can do anything you put your mind to,” McClendon told her fellow graduates. “And remember: better late than never.”
The 107 graduates are:
Adult High School
Ammarion Amir Allen
Ayden Nathaniel Artis
Ashari Monae-Louise Blackman
Breyana Irvinia Brown
Derrick Jaishon Brown
Johnice Terelle Bryant
Floricienne Cina
Robert JaMarion Dixon
Alana Brianne Drummond
Farrad Amir Edwards
Arianna Ishanae Ellis
Melissa Fernandez
Unique Inzya Godwin
Alma Yosellin Gomez
Rogelio Gonzalez-Hernandez
Joseph Edward Ham
Mylie Grace Hatfield
My’kyia Symone Hines
Alande Lambert
Kaleb Dalton Lassiter
Juell Amonte Leach
Amanda Lopez-Gonzalez
Briana LaShawn McClendon
Summer Scarlett McCloud
Rashon Donnelle McLaurin
Candice Danielle Modica
Khalia Zi Moore
Samir Nahjay Morgan
Ja’son Tyquez Patterson
Madison Elizabeth Patterson
Kevin David Perez Mejia
Paola Nicole Silva Diaz
Laurene Helen-Marie Travis
David Luis Vegas
High School Equivalency
Ashley Elizabeth Adams
Donisha Savannah Ajala Armstrong
Caleb Dominique Benjamin
Christopher Allen Bolling
Ciara Martie Borja
Ayden Pitt Braswell
Devion Brown
Nicole Janay Bryant-Alvarado
Thelma Bryant-Alvarado
Nicholas Paul Cameron
Carina Campos
John Larry Carlisle
Samuel Chavez
Chrishanda Abrianna Chestnutt
Evan Michael Cooper
Jonathan Kyle Courtney
John Cox
Keona Dawson
Jeffrey Chance Eaker
Justin G. Enswasher
Jacob Elliott Errante
Luke Farley
Kadin Mathison Farmer-White
Brandon Christopher Figueroa
Altadaelle Saika Francois
James Garcia-Morales
Keiana Hankins
Tariq Hankins
Hanna Viola Harper
Eric Daniel Howard
Araceli Huerta
Sean David Jones
Edmund King
Katie Lynn Kostelecky
Terrill Leach
Brian Keith Lewis
Dashun E’sai McKinnon
Maleak Roshod McLaurin
Frank Mecimore
Phoenix Miller
Braxton Miller
William Hunter Minyard
Jamar Armal Moye
Jessica Blaine Moye
Jessie Allen Nelson
Jasma Yanik Outlaw
Presley Peterson
Amya Lashay Pope
Kassidy Purnell
Cody Lance Ritch
Tomas Rivera Mercado
Angel Manuel Rodriguez
Jesus Romero
Candice Ann Rose
Rosario Edith Ruiz Piñon
Hannah Salyards
Candi Samuda Blackwood
Kameron Scott Sauls
Steve Shifflett
Marcellus Carlyle Sinclair
Kasey Lee Starr
Cody Forest Stewart
Hunter Lamar Stewart
Christopher Larry Strickland
Matthew Ray Tetteron
Perla Yocelyn Villa-Proa
Justin Cesar Villeda
Richard Andrew Westbrook
Chaiquria Imani Williams
Zachary Dean Williams
Zachary Houston Winebarger
Bryson Blaire Woodell
Alexia Leigh Yelvington
Learn more about TPCC program requirements on WCC’s website.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.