SSCC's Adult Opportunity Center holds recognition celebration
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Area residents who passed the General Education Development (GED) test were honored June 16 at the 23rd annual recognition celebration at Southern State Community College’s Central Campus in Hillsboro. GED preparation is offered free of charge through the Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) program at Southern State’s Adult Opportunity Center, under the direction of Karyn Evans, with assistance from staff, part-time instructors and volunteers.
“This GED recognition ceremony reminds me of a very special lady in my life,” said Dr. Kevin Boys, SSCC President, as he opened the evening’s celebration. “At the age of 16, my grandmother married a tall, handsome farmer. One day, he was working in the field and was involved in an accident which left him disabled. At that time, my grandmother had three young children and wondered what she would do. Well, she decided to go back to school. She finished her high school diploma, then went on to Morehead Teachers College, taking courses every summer until she earned her teaching license. Her decision to go back to school changed my grandmother’s life; it changed my mother’s life; and it changed my life. Education is what lifts us up from where we are. It opens doors for us that we didn’t think were possible.”
For this year’s recognition celebration, the student speakers were Vincent Wright, representing the GED program, and Lena Perry, representing the College Readiness Program.
Wright said that in 2008 he lost his job and, although he worked in management, his lack of a high school diploma proved to be an obstacle during his search for a new job. When he enrolled in Southern State’s GED program through the Adult Opportunity Center, he said his class came up with a theme. “We became the gophers,” said Wright. “In ‘Caddyshack,’ the gopher was unstoppable, so now that I’ve earned my GED, I can say, ‘I’m all right, don’t nobody worry ‘bout me!’”
Perry said she enrolled in the SSCC Adult Opportunity Center College Readiness Program because she wanted to brush up on her math and English skills to help ensure her success in college. She recalled that when she was about to enter kindergarten at age 4 she was anxious because she assumed she would already have to know everything. “Then, 50 years later, I had that same feeling of anxiety when I decided to enroll at Southern State,” said Perry. “But I just successfully completed my first college quarter and I know I can keep moving forward. And I’d like to thank Southern State for providing this program.”
Karyn Evans, Dean of SSCC’s Adult Opportunity Center, announced the names of students who were presented awards for achieving high scores on the tests. Gift certificates were awarded to Charles Webb (language arts, perfect score), Leroy Clark (math), Tiffany Hatfield (science, perfect score), Kyle Malone (social studies) and Jacqueline Music (writing) from Liberty Savings Bank; savings bonds were awarded to Jacqueline Music (perfect score) from Fifth Third Bank; to Heather Reed from NCB Bank; to Leroy Clark (reading, perfect score) from Wilmington Savings Bank; and to Audra Williams from Merchants National Bank. Trustee Honor Scholarships, in the amount of $500 each and awarded to the highest scorers from their respective counties, were presented to Jacqueline Music (Adams County), Kyrie Fuchs (Brown County), Edward Bigger III (Clinton County), Jamison Morris (Fayette County), Leroy Clark (Highland County) and Sandra Medley (Ross County). Karen Dean was named as an honor student.
The annual “Friends of ABLE” award was presented to Bill Russell, Associate Vice Chancellor of Adult Education and Institutional Collaboration for the Ohio Board of Regents. The following were recognized as volunteers for the program: Norma Duran, Mark Amon and Debbie Moffatt.
Through Southern State’s Adult Opportunity Center, ABLE classes are free and offered on each campus and in several off-campus locations. All books and materials are provided. Morning, afternoon or evening classes are available for adult literacy, GED preparation, nursing program preparation, college refresher courses, workforce education, and reading, writing and math improvement.
Southern State’s ABLE program is a state and federally funded program offered at no charge to participants. Orientation is the first step for all enrolling students and pre-registration is required. For more information, please visit www.sscc.edu/academics/adult_opportunity_center.htm or contact Southern State’s Adult Opportunity Center at 1-800-628-7722, ext. 2687.[[In-content Ad]]
“This GED recognition ceremony reminds me of a very special lady in my life,” said Dr. Kevin Boys, SSCC President, as he opened the evening’s celebration. “At the age of 16, my grandmother married a tall, handsome farmer. One day, he was working in the field and was involved in an accident which left him disabled. At that time, my grandmother had three young children and wondered what she would do. Well, she decided to go back to school. She finished her high school diploma, then went on to Morehead Teachers College, taking courses every summer until she earned her teaching license. Her decision to go back to school changed my grandmother’s life; it changed my mother’s life; and it changed my life. Education is what lifts us up from where we are. It opens doors for us that we didn’t think were possible.”
For this year’s recognition celebration, the student speakers were Vincent Wright, representing the GED program, and Lena Perry, representing the College Readiness Program.
Wright said that in 2008 he lost his job and, although he worked in management, his lack of a high school diploma proved to be an obstacle during his search for a new job. When he enrolled in Southern State’s GED program through the Adult Opportunity Center, he said his class came up with a theme. “We became the gophers,” said Wright. “In ‘Caddyshack,’ the gopher was unstoppable, so now that I’ve earned my GED, I can say, ‘I’m all right, don’t nobody worry ‘bout me!’”
Perry said she enrolled in the SSCC Adult Opportunity Center College Readiness Program because she wanted to brush up on her math and English skills to help ensure her success in college. She recalled that when she was about to enter kindergarten at age 4 she was anxious because she assumed she would already have to know everything. “Then, 50 years later, I had that same feeling of anxiety when I decided to enroll at Southern State,” said Perry. “But I just successfully completed my first college quarter and I know I can keep moving forward. And I’d like to thank Southern State for providing this program.”
Karyn Evans, Dean of SSCC’s Adult Opportunity Center, announced the names of students who were presented awards for achieving high scores on the tests. Gift certificates were awarded to Charles Webb (language arts, perfect score), Leroy Clark (math), Tiffany Hatfield (science, perfect score), Kyle Malone (social studies) and Jacqueline Music (writing) from Liberty Savings Bank; savings bonds were awarded to Jacqueline Music (perfect score) from Fifth Third Bank; to Heather Reed from NCB Bank; to Leroy Clark (reading, perfect score) from Wilmington Savings Bank; and to Audra Williams from Merchants National Bank. Trustee Honor Scholarships, in the amount of $500 each and awarded to the highest scorers from their respective counties, were presented to Jacqueline Music (Adams County), Kyrie Fuchs (Brown County), Edward Bigger III (Clinton County), Jamison Morris (Fayette County), Leroy Clark (Highland County) and Sandra Medley (Ross County). Karen Dean was named as an honor student.
The annual “Friends of ABLE” award was presented to Bill Russell, Associate Vice Chancellor of Adult Education and Institutional Collaboration for the Ohio Board of Regents. The following were recognized as volunteers for the program: Norma Duran, Mark Amon and Debbie Moffatt.
Through Southern State’s Adult Opportunity Center, ABLE classes are free and offered on each campus and in several off-campus locations. All books and materials are provided. Morning, afternoon or evening classes are available for adult literacy, GED preparation, nursing program preparation, college refresher courses, workforce education, and reading, writing and math improvement.
Southern State’s ABLE program is a state and federally funded program offered at no charge to participants. Orientation is the first step for all enrolling students and pre-registration is required. For more information, please visit www.sscc.edu/academics/adult_opportunity_center.htm or contact Southern State’s Adult Opportunity Center at 1-800-628-7722, ext. 2687.[[In-content Ad]]