On December 11, 2025, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) in Bainbridge, Georgia, honored the achievements of its Class of 2025 during two commencement ceremonies. The event celebrated over 400 graduates, with 282 attending the ceremonies, as friends and family filled the Student Wellness Center gym to capacity.
The commencement recognized graduates who successfully completed their degree programs and high school equivalency credentials during the fall semester of 2025. Many students received multiple honors, as several programs at SRTC offer embedded certificates alongside their main qualifications.
Inspirational Address from a Distinguished Alumna
The commencement speaker was Kellie Odom, SRTC’s 2025 Alumni of the Year. Odom, currently the Director of Nursing at Archbold Medical Center, has built a remarkable 32-year career in healthcare leadership, beginning her journey at SRTC, formerly known as Thomas Technical Institute. She earned her Licensed Practical Nurse certification in 1993, which laid the groundwork for her successful career.
Throughout her tenure at Archbold, Odom has held various leadership roles, including Director of Risk Management, before taking on her current position in 2013. Her commitment to education is evident; she obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing from Darton College and continued to earn both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing from Thomas University. Recently, she received her Chief Nurse Executive Certification from Emory University Goizueta Business School.
As a passionate advocate for technical education, Odom attributes her success to the solid foundation provided by SRTC, maintaining close ties with her former instructors. In recognition of her contributions to healthcare leadership, she received the Outstanding Leadership and Achievement Award from Thomas University in 2015. Earlier this year, she was also honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award by the SRTC Foundation during its “Comedy for a Cause” event.
Messages of Encouragement and Support
SRTC President Jim Glass expressed gratitude to the graduates for choosing Southern Regional Technical College and acknowledged the unwavering support from family and friends throughout their educational journeys. He urged the graduates to carry forward the lessons learned at SRTC as they advance in their careers and further their education.
Southern Regional Technical College offers over 150 degree, diploma, and certificate programs, designed to help students transition quickly into their desired careers. The college also provides 38 general education courses that are transferable to institutions within the University System of Georgia and 19 private colleges and universities in the state. With instructional sites in eleven counties across Southwest Georgia, SRTC ensures convenient access to education for its students.
The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which oversees the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For more information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, interested individuals can visit www.southernregional.edu or call (888) 205-3449.
The summer semester at SRTC is set to begin on May 19, 2026. Prospective students are encouraged to enroll promptly.
