Twenty-six people from the Middlesboro campus of SKCTC, along with 30 from the Middlesboro Learning Center and four from the Pineville Learning Center were included in the graduating class.
There were more than 100 family and friends present to watch the 13 who decided to go through a formal graduation. They all came from the three learning centers in the county.
Samuel Coleman, Jr. of Southeast Kentucky Small Business Development Center gave the introduction and welcome to the guests present and Joshua Brooks, office support assistant, led in an invocation. The speaker for the evening was Kathy Newman, Southeast Community and Technical College Adult Education Specialist. She is also an example of a former GED student and what could happen if opportunities presented were taken advantage of.
Newman said she was the first child in her immediate family to get an education. When she received her GED that inspired her brothers and sisters to get their GEDs and they have gone on to be nurses and doctors. It was through her example that she was able to inspire her family to get an education and further their job opportunities, and she was hoping it would also inspire the GED graduates to continue their education.
Out of the 62 graduates Virgil Wilson received the highest GED test score and received a special certificate for the award.
Wilson, originally from Harlan County, has been a resident of Bell County since 1992. He said he decided that he wanted a better education and better employment.
“I want to be a better example to my children now that they are older,” he said. He has three children, ages 7, 9 and 10. He said the GED program for him was more fitting than high school.
“They make you feel very welcome and will help you any way possible. I definitely encourage people to get their GEDs. They have a great program here” explained Wilson.
Wilson said he would enroll in college this fall so he could pursue better employment by studying computer programing.
William Brewer, 57, said he wanted his GED to improve himself.
“All my life I wished I had graduated back years and years ago but I wanted this for myself. To feel better about myself and who knows what it will bring later on,” he stated. “At my age you can never tell what this (GED) will bring. It is very very important,” he added. Brewer just got out of the hospital two days before graduation.
Wanda Sue Hill, 48, said she wanted to get a better job.
“I had to drop out of high school when I was younger. It wasn’t the choice I had but I wanted to go back and get my GED and get a better job” she said. A higher education is also a possibility that is in back of her mind. “I have missed out on a lot of good jobs and good things by not having a better education. I am glad I made this step” added Hill.
Jeffrey Knack, 17, said he had problems in high school.
“My mother said you either stay in high school or get your GED so I got my GED to stay out of trouble and it has helped me out,” he explained. Now that he has his GED the next step is to go to college. “I want to study business management,” he said.
Emily Weaver, 17, dropped out of school.
“I had to do something and joined a GED class,“ she acknowledged. “I don’t know what I am going to do. I am going to go to college and decide later on what to do.” She said getting her GED was a good positive step for her.
Jessica Brooks, 19, had plans to graduate high school. “Problems within the family was such I had to stay home and take care of my grandmother and the next best thing was to get my GED,” she said.
Jessica has applied to college; however, the only thing standing in her way is financial aid. She doesn’t qualify. She believes that having to work for her goals will make her appreciate it more once she receives them, especially a college education. Her plans are to continue work and pursue higher education classes.
Michael Surgener, 45, has been a professional Christian musician for 20 years.
“I am tired of traveling and I thought it was time for a change. I am interested in the medical field and have been accepted at LMU and I plan to become a physician assistant,” he said.
Michael says he isn’t going to let age stand in the way of his getting a college education. “There are many people needed in the medical profession and they are running short of staff in many places and the pay is very good with prices of food and gas going up. It is a very interesting field and I am very excited and looking forward to my studies,“ Surgener explained.
This GED program is provided by SKCTC. Vic Adams, Associate Dean of Community and Economic Development presented the awards. Patty Burnside, Associate Professor at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, and others teach students and tuition is free through the help of sponsors that include Bell County Council on Literacy, United Way, Dollar General Store and fundraisers throughout the year.
Those that graduated from the SKCTC Middlesboro campus include: Jeremy Baker, Corey Bass, Jessie Bean, Heather Bixman, Angela Burkhart, Jefferson Denny, Sarah Earls, Tim Ellis, Brian Ford, Candace Garland, Jennifer Gibson, Jeffery Knack, Jesse Lambert, Jamie Letendre, Michael Marsee, Joey Miracle, Michael Partin, Dustin Patterson, Chasity Powers, Chase Robbins, Lewis Saylor, Clint Shoffner, Amanda Sparks, Johnathan Walker, Emily Weaver and Virgil Wilson.
Those graduating from the Middlesboro Learning Center are: Jim Asher, Michael Bachelder, Rebecca Blackburn, William Brewer, Jessica Brooks, Jason Bullins, Darrell Bullock, Charles Burton, Andrea Cinnamon, Joshua Collett, Tessa Collier, Jami England, Paula Foley, Terenia Grubbs, Nicole Holbrook, Jessica Hughett, James Johnson, Roy Johnson, Jr., Brian Jones, Carl Lambdin, Rebecca Mikesell, Mike Mills, Kevin Murrell, Brittany Newhouse, Patricia Owens, Cassandra Ramsey, Natasha Shoaf, Michael Surgener, Shaun Trosper, Robert Tucker, Amanda Turner and Jeffrey Weaver.
Graduates from the Pineville Learning Center include: Jennifer Brock, David Dunn, Jonathan Johnson and Wanda Mills.
C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.
Pictured are just 13 of the 62 graduates of the GED program from three campuses in Bell County; these are the graduates who took part in the graduation ceremony this week. Each encourages others to take that step of getting higher education by getting their GED. (C.J. HARTE/Daily News)
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