From left (bottom) Katie Burrows, Nicole Olano,
Stephanie Heinrich (top) Heather Kulp,
Ann Marie Miller, Erica Wagoner, Emily Valentino

For early childhood education major Erica Wagoner, the December 16 commencement ceremonies at Georgia Gwinnett College represent more than the attainment of a dream. They mark the end of two-year journey in which the Bethlehem native and nine of her fellow classmates celebrated their own transformation, and that of the College. As a member of the first graduating class from GGC's School of Education, Wagoner witnessed the development of the academic program that will now launch her career.

Wagoner shared her thoughts about this amazing journey in words and photos.

"I am one of the original students who started in the Early Childhood Education program. Over the past two years I have met the most amazing groups of girls who have endured the growing processes of a college program. None of us are what you would call traditional students because we are moms, wives, full-time workers and more. As a group we have supported each other through life’s trials and celebrations. We have become a family - a family who laughed, cried and worked hard to get through a program and come out as the finest educators the state has ever seen.

We are now about to embark on a great historical journey - not only for ourselves, but also for Georgia Gwinnett College. We are the first to graduate from the newly accredited School of Education program. Once teaching, we will have support from our professors and will open our own classrooms to future GGC teacher candidates. Our journey here at GGC is not ending but only just beginning."