LaGRANGE — West Georgia Technical College recognized 17 students for their academic excellence as they were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society June 17 at the Callaway Conference Center on the east campus in LaGrange.

Of the 32 students who received membership into the National Technical Honor Society, 17 participated in the induction ceremony. The ceremony included the “lighting of the candles,” representing the attributes of knowledge, skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship and leadership.

The ceremony also included pinning of inductees and ended with the National Technical Honor Society pledge. Guest speakers included WGTC Provost Perrin Alford and LaGrange Director of Instruction Anita Carter. Assisting in the ceremony were NTHS state officers Anita Cooper, a LaGrange campus student, and Ahmad Johnson from Atlanta Technical College, along with Annie Pool, NTHS state membership director and local co-advisor, and Shirlee Ausman, business administrative technology faculty member and local NTHS co-advisor.

“I am very proud of the students and encourage them to take advantage of the leadership and scholarship opportunities that NTHS offers,” said Ausman.

To be considered for membership in the National Technical Honor Society, students must have a 3.66 GPA and must be enrolled in a diploma, degree or degree core certificate program. Additional requirements include having a 2 or better in work ethics, involvement in school, church or community organizations, the completion of 15 semester credit hours and a nomination by an instructor or advisor.

Upon graduation, members of the National Technical Honor Society receive three letters of recommendation from the national office to take with them on job interviews. Members have access to the National Technical Honor Society Online Career Center to aid in finding employment. Members also have $135,000 in scholarship opportunities as well, some of which are in conjunction with other student organizations at West Georgia Technical College.

This year Brandon Bambic, a 2015 graduate of WGTC’s Radiologic Technology Program, received a $1,000 Jon H. Poteat scholarship from NTHS.

“We are proud of the academic excellence these students have shown,” said West Georgia Technical College President Steve G. Daniel. “I am proud of every one of them and congratulate them on their success.”