MTC Turner County Grad Got College Start in High School
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Moultrie Technical College Turner County Campus Cosmetology program graduate Keyintle Fields of Ashburn, left, celebrated with instructor Donna Waters, right, prior to the December 18 commencement ceremony. Fields began working on her Cosmetology diploma while a student at Turner County High School. |
Keyintle Fields had to finish what she started as a dual enrollment student at both Turner County High School and Moultrie Technical College’s Turner County Campus more than five years ago.
Fields, now 22 and the single mother of two daughters, ages three and one, began taking Shampoo Technology classes with MTC Cosmetology program instructor Donna Waters while at TCHS and gained both high school and technical college credit simultaneously.
But after graduating from TCHS, she chose to continue her education at Darton College studying criminal justice and left her dreams of working in the beauty industry unfulfilled.
After a move to Americus and then a recent return to her roots in Ashburn, Fields revisited the program where she got her first college start with Waters. Then on Friday, December 18, she walked across the stage at Withers Auditorium in Moultrie as a graduate of the Cosmetology diploma program during the College’s semi-annual Commencement Ceremony.
“I just love doing hair. I like the environment and building people’s confidence and self-esteem by making them look and feel better,” said Fields on the evening of her graduation.
She plans to take the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology licensing exam in January so she can began working. She hopes to rent a booth at a salon or buy a salon of her own.
“Keyintle has a great character and a lot of talent in our Cosmetology field…she has worked very hard to never give up and achieve her goal,” said Waters. “I can’t wait to see where her future will carry her.”
Fields was among hundreds of her fellow MTC graduates at the ceremony, as the college recognized over 250 allied health, business and computers, personal and public service, and technical and industrial program graduates from its four-county service area of Colquitt, Tift, Turner and Worth.
MTC president Tina Anderson congratulated the summer and fall quarter graduating classes of 2009 as MTC Early Childhood Care and Education instructor and 2008 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year award winner Kathryn Kent led the faculty, staff and graduate processional as the event’s marshal.
MTC Board of Directors member Brinson Brock of South Georgia Banking Company in Ashburn assisted the College's administration in the conferring of awards. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the commencement address given by Brad Bowen, lead pastor at Heritage Church in Moultrie, as he challenged the graduates and audience to live a life of passion.
The College honored the memory of Practical Nursing program graduate Bryan Collier who completed his course work in September but passed away unexpectedly in November. His mother, Jackie Holcomb, accepted his cap and gown in the ceremony.
