SCC GED Ceremony Changes Lives

5/24/10

Dr. Tim Bellamey, Vice President of Instructional Services; Maxine Russell, SCC Board of Trustees Chairperson; Snelson; Guilbeaux; Dr. Larry Peterson, SCC President; and Darden.

Students enter Shawnee Community College's GED program for many reasons. Some encountered health problems that prevented them from attending classes regularly, while others couldn't finish for personal reasons, others dropped out because a traditional classroom didn't meet their needs.

Each person honored at the SCC Adult Education program has overcome whichever obstacles to completing their education. At the ceremony, 31 graduates earned their GED, 39 students graduated from the alternative high school program, and 20 students were inducted to the National Adult Education Honor Society. Pauline Guilbeaux of Anna and Kirk Snelson of Cairo were awarded the SCC Vice President's GED Scholarship. Anna-Jonesboro High School guidance counselor and long-time friend of SCC Carol Carter received the SCC Adult Education Partnership Award.

SCC's GED instructors work closely with all these students to help them achieve their goals, graduating 35 to 45 students per year. GED classes can be found at 12 locations throughout the SCC district.

"We try to bring classes out into the district, to work with students and help them get to where they want to be," said James Darden, Director of Alternative Instruction. "We determine their current level of performance and help them build on those skills to work through the curriculum and so get their GED."

That philosophy has been essential to the program's success, which is reflected in test results. Darden said it is not unusual for a student to score 500 or 600 out of a possible 700 points. In Illinois, GED candidates must achieve a standard score of 410 or above on each of the five tests and a total standard score of 2250 or above to pass the test. At SCC students who score 2500 or more are eligible to apply for a GED scholarship to Shawnee Community College; two are awarded each spring. During the past two years, about 35-40 percent of Shawnee's GED graduates have continued their education by enrolling in college classes. "We promote going on to college from day one. Being on campus makes them feel like they are part of the college from the time they start and it makes them comfortable," Darden said. Many of the students who complete their GED and do not immediately enroll in college will move on to a better job or receive a promotion at their current job. Whatever may be the case, the GED classes at Shawnee Community College are changing lives. For more information, call 618-634-3222 or 618-634-3325.