Commissioner: Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

52 men graduate, 70 family members attend

FORSYTH, Ga. – On September 15, Smith State Prison (SP) hosted their Fall GED Graduation ceremony. There were 52 total graduates and over 70 family members and loved ones that were present to witness the event.

“Smith State Prison continues to make GED competitions a top priority,” said Commissioner Dozier, “We are thankful for our dedicated staff, and are proud of the 52 men who have taken an important step towards a successful reentry.”  

Guest speaker Jennifer Irvin, Southeast Regional Principal, presented the graduates with words of encouragement, and the Salutatorian and Valedictorian gave empowering speeches about their educational journey. The valedictorian recognized two employees with the agency’s Golden Apple Award, for their exemplary effort in helping the offenders earn their diplomas. He noted that GED Teacher, Dr. Lance Brantley, and Supervisor, Lieutenant Deric Godfrey, were the most influential employees in helping him earn his GED.

The GED program provides educational services to offenders who did not complete their high school education prior to incarceration. Students must pass tests in four basic subject areas: Mathematics, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5248 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.