Athens Technical College will celebrate graduates during its annual ceremony on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. held at The Classic Center. A ceremony for high school equivalency graduates from Adult Education will follow at 2 p.m.

There are 557 candidates for graduation in certificate, diploma and associate degree programs for the academic year. Nearly 350 students are expected to attend the ceremony, which does not require tickets for graduates or guests.

Former University of Georgia director of athletics and football coach Vince Dooley, who also served as a member of the local board of directors for Athens Tech from 2005 to 2014, will deliver the keynote address.

For over 50 years, Vince Dooley has had an enduring impact on the University of Georgia, the Southeastern Conference, and collegiate athletics across the country. Serving as head football coach at UGA from December 1963, to Jan. 1, 1989, and as Director of Athletics from 1979 to 2004, he has been a man of great foresight in times of charting the future, stability in times of change, and vision in critical times that have shaped the path of college athletics.

Dooley’s 25 years as head football coach earned him the distinction as the most successful coach in Georgia history. He guided the Bulldogs to a career record of 201-77-10 becoming only the ninth coach in NCAA Division I history to win over 200 games. The Bulldogs won one national championship (1980) and six SEC Championships under his direction. He took his teams to 20 Bowl games and coached a Heisman Trophy winner (Herschel Walker, 1982), a Maxwell Award Winner (Walker, 1982), an Outland Award Winner (Bill Stanfill, 1968), 40 First Team All-Americans and 10 Academic All-Americans.

Cayanna Good, assistant commissioner for adult education with the Technical College System of Georgia, will deliver the keynote address for the afternoon’s ceremony. Good oversees all adult education programs within TCSG. She has also held numerous positions in the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and the Georgia Department of Education.

“We are looking forward to another terrific celebration of the accomplishments of our students,” said ATC President Andrea Daniel. “Our graduates play an integral role in the workforce including healthcare, manufacturing, service and other fields. Their credentials are evidence of their excellent training and motivation for career success.”