GRANITEVILLE - The fashion design program at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center sewed up a first at the school's annual Completer Ceremony on Wednesday evening at Aiken Technical College.
Garyel Tranece Jackson, Mana Nicole Pham and Shandrea Nicole Tanksley are the fashion program's first three graduates. Tanksley was named to the National Technical Honor Society.
"The students learn everything from how to identify fibers in fabrics to designing clothes, sketching, using industrial sewing machines and, finally, how to sell them," said Jean Pesce, the program's instructor. "We're getting going and getting good community support. Lionel Smith, Charlotte's Bridal and Aiken industries are involved with us and are really helpful."
Teresa Hayden, who teaches the health technology program, also had a first: the first two male graduates, Ramon Hill and Michael Knight, both students at North Augusta High.
Hayden said students in the health science program study basic fundamentals of nursing, including anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical terminology and basic patient care skills.
"My students each have about 30 plus skills that they have been signed off on to practice in a hospital," Hayden said.
For two years in a row, Hayden's students, Abby Williams this year and Elizabeth Molina last year, have been named the Career Center Student of the Year.
Williams, a student at Silver Bluff High, also received a $2,500 scholarship from Glaxo Smith Kline.
"It's exciting to represent the Career and Technology Education program at the Career Center," Williams said.
She said she will use her scholarship to study nursing at USC Aiken, adding her career plan is to become a nurse practitioner.
Molina helped present Williams her award, calling her "motivated, passionate, determined and always looking to help out the community."
Molina, who is a student at ATC and will apply to the nursing program in the fall, told all the graduates to "always keep your focus on your career goals, as they can be achieved."
William Hudson, director of the Career Center, ended the program by thanking the members of this year's class for their work.
"Now is your time. Now is your opportunity. We wish you the best," he said.
Larry Wood covers education for the Aiken Standard.