Record number of grads marched at HGTC commencement
颁辞苍飞补测鈥�(May 10, 2017) More than 900 of 1,400 graduates marched at the 
Myrtle Beach Convention Center to receive associate degrees, diplomas or certificates
from Dr. Marilyn Murphy Fore, 兔子先生鈥檚 first woman president.
The first graduates of the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, and first
graduates in cybersecurity, machine tool and interior design are among them.
Awards for a student or student group earning the 鈥淎lpha Nu Sigma Service and Leadership Award,鈥� 鈥淧rofessor of the Year鈥� and 鈥淪taff Member of the Year鈥� were announced during the ceremony.
Recipients of the student award include Heather Jones, Steven Luse, Cassandra Colon, Norman Chesnut, Michelle Latshaw and Heather Doughtery-Nelson, all officers of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
The vice chair of HGTC鈥檚 Human Services program, Renee Robyn Causey, was named 鈥淧rofessor of the Year鈥� for her service to students and local groups that address helping the disadvantaged in our community, including The Sheperd鈥檚 Table and Sea Haven. Professor Causey was the first executive director of Waccamaw Youth Center in Conway and later worked with in New York with Mayor Michael Bloomberg as Assistant Commissioner of Youth and Community programs.
HGTC 鈥淪taff Member of the Year鈥� was Alfreda Lewis, the college鈥檚 recruiter for employment.
Local businessman Robert Rabon, a graduate of HGTC, was named Patron Emeritus for his support of public education. Rabon, formerly on the Coastal Carolina University Board of Trustees, serves now on the board for Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority. In 2008, he was an advocate on behalf of 鈥淭he Education Penny鈥� sales tax providing funds for construction and technology in public schools, CCU and HGTC for 15 years. Horry County is the only county to have this source of funds for education.
鈥淭he Education Penny鈥� provided funds for a new building to house engineering technology and golf and sport turf programs at HGTC, seed money for the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, and funds for an advanced manufacturing center under construction in the Conway.
This was HGTC鈥檚 fifty-first commencement.