Jackson. Photos provided.
By Ken Scar
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) is celebrating two extraordinary graduates whose journeys exemplify the power of resilience, determination, and a commitment to serving others. Mikiah Miller and Shari Jackson come from vastly different backgrounds but share a common thread: the courage to forge new paths in the face of adversity.
Miller
Both Miller and Jackson, who will serve as Commencement Student Speakers for the college’s two December 14 commencement ceremonies, embody GGC’s core values of leadership, creativity, service, and scholarship.
Born into a military family in Honolulu, Hawaii, Miller grew up surrounded by a legacy of service. Inspired by her parents, both military veterans, she dreamed of joining the U.S. Navy. However, health issues forced her to take a medical discharge before completing boot camp. Undeterred, Miller shifted her focus to technology, enrolling at GGC as an IT major.
Miller moved to Metro Atlanta and graduated from Dutchtown School in Hampton. After graduating high school, Miller’s family moved to Lawrenceville, where she resides with her dad, Ken, a retired U.S. Navy officer, and her stepmom, Vera, a retired paralegal. Both are pastors.
“I started at GGC with just a bag of belongings and a lot of questions about what my future would hold,” Miller says.
At GGC, Miller’s natural affinity for technology flourished. She worked at the campus IT help desk, gaining invaluable hands-on experience and developing a passion for problem-solving and customer service. Her academic achievements included acceptance into the honors program and internships that paved the way for leadership roles, including serving as president of Women in Technology, a nonprofit that empowers women in STEAM fields.
“GGC kept me grounded and gave me a community that celebrated my growth and accomplishments,” she says.
After graduation, Miller aims to work in IT within the local or federal government and plans to pursue a doctorate to inspire the next generation of IT professionals.
For Shari Jackson, GGC represented a second chance. At 55, she enrolled as a first-year human services major, a bold step after years of caregiving for her mother and aunt while raising her children. It was her mother and aunt’s encouragement that motivated her to return to college.
“They frequently urged me to earn my degree so I could help others,” Jackson says.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Jackson relocated to Georgia in 2006, where she balanced caregiving responsibilities and family life. The loss of her mother and aunt within six months of each other in 2015 was the catalyst for her decision to enroll at GGC. She embraced the experience, forming lasting relationships with classmates and staff. Jackson was enrolled in Baltimore Community College in 2002 but had to withdraw when she became pregnant with her son.
“Through the ups and downs of life, I am grateful for my decision to restart my journey here at GGC,” Jackson said.
After graduation, Jackson plans to explore advanced degrees in public administration or policy but will first take time to reflect on her accomplishments and reconnect with her hometown of Baltimore.
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