GNTC, Floyd County Prison partnership opens career path for offenders

A partnership between Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) and Floyd County Prison offers offenders a path to earning their High School Equivalency and receiving hands-on career training.

GNTC and Floyd County Prison held a graduation ceremony May 29 to recognize 14 offenders who earned their High School Equivalency (HSE), five offenders who earned a Certificate of Completion in Shielded Metal Arc and Flux Core Welding and five offenders who received their Class B Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) license.

Steven Roebuck, guest speaker at the graduation, told the graduates that “you now hold keys to opportunities that you didn’t have before—keys to better jobs, keys to better living, keys to a better future. The possibilities are now endless.”

“Our past can only hold us back if we allow it,” Roebuck said. Over two different incarcerations, Roebuck served almost seven years at Floyd County Prison. Now he holds four state professional licenses, serves as the prison’s chaplain and is the Water and Sewer Maintenance supervisor for the City of Cave Spring.

“I’m not anybody special. All I did was work hard, and I did what was right,” he said.

Roebuck challenged the graduates to accomplish everything that their new credentials empower them to achieve and to want the best for themselves and their loved ones.

GNTC has partnered in the past with the prison to host programs to help prepare offenders for life after their release, including providing courses for CDL licensure, welding, HSE diplomas and basic business skills, such as computer usage.

These partnerships dovetail with Gov. Brian Kemp’s efforts to help offenders to reintegrate into society more successfully after their release from prison, including legislation to make it easier for former offenders without drivers’ licenses to obtain identification cards, as well as proof of training and programs they completed while incarcerated.

“Learning is a never-ending sequence of events and does not stop because you graduated today,” said Judith Gilmer, correctional officer at Floyd County Prison, who gave welcome and closing remarks during the ceremony. “Whatever you want out of life, you now know that you can achieve it through the same hard work that you used to earn your certificates… My challenge to you is to continue to learn regardless of where you are or what you are doing.”

“Take and pass on this great gift of knowledge to others that may have begun where you did, with some doubts, some fears and a lack of confidence to believe in yourself,” Gilmer said.

The funding for this cohort of both Class B CDL and Welding was funded through a grant from Truist Bank.  Georgia Northwestern Technical College delivers high-quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students can pursue associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in a wide range of career pathways, including aviation, business, health, industrial and public service. Over the past year, 14,082 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. The college has an annual credit enrollment of 9,342 students and achieved a 100 percent placement rate. An additional 4,740 individuals are served through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start® programs