CGTC commencement May 2 at Macon Coliseum

Published 1:07 pm Friday, April 18, 2025

The Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) commencement ceremony returns to the Macon Coliseum Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m.

The Macon Coliseum has long been a place of celebration for the college’s graduates and their families. This year’s ceremony will feature Dr. Ray Perren, TCSG deputy commissioner for Technical Education, as the keynote speaker.

In 2020, Perren was appointed deputy commissioner by TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier after serving as president at Lanier Technical College.

Under Perren’s leadership, Lanier Technical College saw impressive growth, including more than 35%

annual enrollment growth and a 100% graduate placement rate for five consecutive years. Dr. Perren’s

career has spanned leadership roles at multiple technical colleges across Georgia, including Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Valdosta Technical College. He has also worked with TCSG as the assistant commissioner for Technical Education, assistant commissioner for Technical Education at TCSG, president of East Central Technical College in Fitzgerald, and Dean of Academic Affairs for DeVry University’s operations in Georgia and North Carolina.

Perren spent the first 20 years of his career with the Paulding County School System.

With over 45 years of experience in education and leadership in both K-12 and postsecondary institutions in Georgia, Perren is positioned to speak to the career and educational goals of CGTC graduates.

“Commencement at CGTC is always the highlight of our year,” said vice president for Student Affairs, Dr. Craig Jackson. “Our graduates work hard to meet their goals, and one of our greatest contributions to their efforts is providing a safe, thoughtful and exciting environment for their loved ones to join in their celebration.”

The return of CGTC’s commencement to the Macon Coliseum marks an important moment for the college as it embraces traditions of the past while continuing to move forward with excellence in education.

The ceremony is free and open to the public and promises to be a memorable event for graduates and their families.

Graduates and their families are encouraged to visit www.centralgatech.edu/graduation for details on parking, graduate entrances and additional information about the ceremony.

The ceremony will be live-streamed and can be viewed at www.centralgatech.edu. A special link will be made available on the day of the event.