Events
Wake Tech Holds GED And Adult High School Graduation
RALEIGH, N.C. (December 14, 2012) - Students of all ages who never completed high school finally turned their tassels in front of joyful family and friends. Wake Tech Community College held its fall graduation ceremony tonight for students receiving their GED or Adult High School diploma. The event took place in the gymnasium on Wake Tech’s main campus.
Among the student speakers was Andrea Cantu, who dropped out of high school when she became pregnant at the age of 16. “My family showed me that anything is possible,” Cantu said. “Now that I have my GED I want to become a nurse!”
Another graduate, Celia Rivera, shared that she has already completed a Certified Nursing Assistant program. She encouraged her fellow graduates to continue their education. “I urge you to take advantage of the many opportunities that Wake Tech has available for you. Do not stop here!”
Cantu and Rivera were among 464 students who received their GED. Another 23 students received their Adult High School diploma, designed for students who left high school with five credits or less to graduate.
Wake Tech Dean Monica Gemperlein praised graduates for their initiative and hard work. “Celebrate your achievement, but do not let this be the end. Continue to build upon the pathway to your future, and be sure that further education is a part of it.”
Many graduates will go on to enroll at Wake Tech in the fall. Some will take advantage of the GED Link program, a 6-week college preparation course, which gives students college-readiness skills, such as financial aid assistance, and extra math and reading help.
Wake Tech has the largest GED program in the state and graduates as many students as a large public high school in Wake County. Last year, Wake Tech awarded 793 high school credentials - more GED/Adult High School (AHS) credentials than any other community college in North Carolina. Graduates included migrant workers who completed their GED through the High School Equivalency Program (HEP), funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
