She was 1 of two university student speakers throughout the initial ceremony.

“To my fellow graduates, I encourage you all to continue to pursue your hopes and goals,” Marshall stated.

“Each of you were made for a specific system and reason. Each individual of you have greatness on the inside of you, and I am right here to inspire you to under no circumstances give up. I just turned 50 4 times back, and I never ever would have imagined that I would be below today and searching forward to a new occupation.”

She stated following graduation she is on the lookout ahead to the place her degree is going to direct — she’s on the lookout to go to Limestone Higher education for a bachelor’s degree in social perform.

A further college student who spoke Thursday was Haylee Godfrin, who gained an associate in promoting with a photography concentration.

She spoke about her journey to Piedmont Tech and stated her daughter Skylar, born in 2018.

“I experienced a minimal human that was dependent on me, and I knew that I not only desired to give her a pleased everyday living, but I necessary to be the part model she justifies,” Godfrin reported.

Godfrin has discovered a work undertaking graphic structure and mentioned she’s now seeking to get her foot in the door of the industry and figure her way by the working globe.

Piedmont Tech President Hope Rivers advised the graduates right before they walked across the phase that they’ve reached “the most overwhelming and hard endeavor.”

“I am very pleased of every and each a person of you for hanging in there, for doing the hard perform and for holding your eye on the prize. You did it,” she mentioned.

Rivers inspired the graduates to appreciate and revel in their accomplishment.

Throughout the night ceremony, the two speakers were being Jake Roberts and Jaqueline Escobar-Rivera.