Ceremony will recognize Augusta’s first HVAC/R graduates, first-generation college graduates, veterans and workforce-ready students
AUGUSTA, GA — Helms College, a nonprofit career college operated by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, will hold its Summer 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 11 a.m. at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta.
The ceremony will recognize 54 graduates from Helms College’s Augusta campus who have completed associate degree and diploma programs in culinary arts, healthcare and skilled trades. The graduating class includes the first students to complete the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration diploma program at the Augusta campus.
Summer 2026 Graduating Class: Augusta Campus
Total Graduates: 54
- Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts: 13
- Culinary Arts Diploma: 14
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Diploma: 12
- Multi-Skilled Medical Assistant Diploma: 15
Graduate Highlights
- Distinguished Honor Graduates: 4
- Honor Graduates: 32
- First-Generation College Graduates: 15
- Veterans: 8
- Goodwill Employees: 2
Dr. Miriam Yvette Jones Atkins, Commencement Speaker
“Graduation recognizes the determination our students have shown as they prepare for meaningful careers,” said Kristine Furtaw, Chief Education Officer for Helms College. “Many have balanced school with work and family responsibilities while developing the knowledge, hands-on skills and confidence to take their next steps. We are especially excited to celebrate Augusta’s first HVAC/R graduates and the beginning of a new chapter for this skilled trades program.”
The commencement speaker will be Miriam Yvette Jones Atkins, M.D., F.A.C.P., a board-certified medical oncologist, U.S. Army veteran, and immediate past president of both the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and the Medical Staff at Piedmont Hospital – Augusta. Dr. Atkins is widely recognized for her leadership in healthcare, military service, and advocacy for patient access and medical education.
Dr. Atkins served eight years in the United States Army and attained the rank of major. During her military service, she earned the Army Achievement Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Her leadership and community service have also earned her recognition, including being named one of Trinity C.M.E. Church’s Transformational Women in 2017, receiving the Augusta Branch of the NAACP’s 2023 Health Service Award, and receiving the Girl Scouts of the CSRA’s 2011 Woman of Distinction Award.
Event Details
What: Helms College Summer 2026 Commencement
When: Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Where: Warren Baptist Church, 3203 Washington Road, Augusta, Georgia
About Helms College
Helms College is a nonprofit, accredited career college operated by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA. With campuses in Augusta and Macon, the college provides hands-on education in high-demand fields. Through its distinctive classroom-to-lab-to-enterprise model, students gain real-world experience in applied learning environments that operate as businesses. Graduates leave prepared to enter the workforce with practical skills, industry knowledge, and the confidence to pursue long-term career advancement.
For more information, please visit www.helms.edu.