Adult graduates get diplomas right on time

Students who started late make up for lost years

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by GRETCHEN PHILLIPS Demetria Dee and John Dee of Waldorf pose with family as friends take pictures after the adult education graduation held at Westlake High School on Thursday. Both received their high school diplomas through the External Diploma program. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Teresa Randolph of White Plains celebrates with family and friends after the adult education graduation ceremony Thursday at Westlake High School. Randolph received her high school diploma through the External Diploma program. Click here to enlarge this photo Orland A. VanBavel Jr. of White Plains takes a minute to hug his stepmother, Diane VanBavel, on Thursday after the adult education graduation at Westlake High School. VanBavel received his high school diploma through the GED program. He plans to take classes at the College of Southern Maryland to further his education. Click here to enlarge this photo Hilda Whalen of Prince George's County gives a thumbs-up to a friend before the ceremony

When Demetria Dee of Waldorf walked across the stage to receive her high school diploma, her husband, John, was at her side and seconds later he walked behind her across the same stage to receive his diploma.

The husband and wife were two of more than 200 participants in the External Diploma program and the GED program to receive diplomas this year.

"There are no words to describe this," John Dee said, holding his diploma.

Thursday, 73 adult education graduates opted to walk across the stage at Westlake High School, turn the tassels on their caps and get recognized as high school graduates in front of family and friends.

Both programs run in conjunction with Charles County Public Schools and the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation.

Classes are held at the Lifelong Learning Center in Waldorf.

Darlene Watkins came from the Eastern Shore to see her daughter, Kelly Hutchinson of Clinton, get her GED.

"I want to see my daughter walk across the stage. It's been a long time, and she deserves it." Watkins said.

Like any high school graduation, representatives of the school system and local officials made congratulatory remarks.

And like other graduations, there was a speaker from each class. However, on Thursday, it was less of a "walk down memory lane" student address and more of an inspirational message detailing the courage and perseverance it took to get back on the track of education, the reasons for the decisions and the doors that have recently opened.

"This is for my two grandsons who pushed me because I pushed them. They said I needed to have my diploma," said Stanley Clarke of Waldorf, a graduate and student speaker for the External Diploma program.

Clarke explained that he, like many in the graduating class, worked very hard to reach Thursday night's celebration. The diploma for graduates comes after a lot of hard work and long hours. Now that Clarke has his diploma, the dream for him and his grandchildren is "not just high school, it's college. ... Ladies and gentleman, I am here today to thank you."

Kristina Gozzi, a graduate of the GED program after a nine-year, on-and-off program schedule, spoke to graduates with a message of hope.

"We all have our personal reasons for not completing high school," Gozzi said.

Gozzi, 28, of Waldorf said for her, the inspiration to go back to school came when she was working late hours, living paycheck to paycheck with no health benefits and no financial security for her daughter.

Whatever the reasons were for not completing high school when she was younger, Gozzi said, "That door has closed and many more have opened. Today, we are high school graduates ... I have shown my daughter how important education is for her future ... Don't ever give up," she said.

"She is a very hard-working, dedicated young lady. I am very proud," Virginia McGraw said of Gozzi, who volunteers at J.P. Ryon Elementary School where McGraw is the principal.

Gozzi's daughter, Skye, said she felt "very happy" for her mother Thursday night.

Elizabeth Sinnes, adult education program coordinator, said the graduations over the past 13 years have always been inspirational.

"[Adult education] graduates are so appreciative and so thankful for what they have done," she said.

Sinnes said Maryland has the largest External Diploma program of the 10 states in the country that have them, including Washington, D.C.

The External Diploma program allows students to demonstrate life skills and complete a portfolio of work rather than sit for a timed test like in the GED program, she said.

The External Diploma program is not easier than the GED program, it is just designed without a test for those who, for whatever reason, do not test well, she said.

Both programs provide a high school diploma.

In addition to the two programs that aim to help adults earn diplomas, the Lifelong Learning Center offers many additional programs including English as a second language, family literacy programs and GED practice tests.

Anyone 16 and older who is not currently enrolled in Charles County Public Schools can attend classes at the center. Many classes are free with the exception of some book fees.

Ronald G. Cunningham, deputy superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, said Thursday that graduating from high school is one of life's milestones.

"I'm glad to see so many people persevere and persist to get their high school diploma."

gphillips@somdnews.com

The graduates

Two hundred and forty-six students graduated from the adult education program on Thursday and the following students attended the ceremony:

Diplomas were presented to the following General Educational Development, or GED, program students:

John F. Biscoe Sr., Edward Daily III, Gregory Dyess, Elmarie N. Ford, Jennifer Fox, Brian A. Gantt, Elisabeth Gilt, Kristina Gozzi, Candice Grinder, Kevin Hairston, Kali M. Haney, Joseph N. Hobbs, Kelly Hutchinson, Erica Kitt, Darlla Lakner, Hollie Matthews, Kimberly Pitts, Malcolm Redmond, Thomas Ripley, Robert Simms, Lucinda I. Smith, Valerie Tolson, Stephen Trotter-White and Orland A. VanBavel Jr.

Diplomas were presented to the following External Diploma program students:

Melanie F. Anderson, George M. Bowie Jr., Michelle Renee Bowles, Patricia Ann Briscoe, Damien Irvin Brown, Stanley Clarke, Yoko Corbin, Demetria Marie Dee, John Donnell Dee, Anna Marie DeGennaro, Aisha Nicole Dias, Myrtle A. Dorais, Shauquetta Renee Dotson, Tarsha Monique Douglas, Tonya Lynn Drinks, Derrick Wade Fleet, Matthew Reginald Fowler Jr., Jaron A. Gray, Larry Darnell Hastings, Anthony Jerome Jackson, Darnette A. Jarrett, Todd L. Johnson, Samuel S. Jones III, Gail Nora Koznowsky, Shaneeka Marshall, Pamela L. Mims, Aziza A. Mitchell, Bryanna Maribel Moreno, Angela Dawn Morgan, James Thomas Pankake, Towanda Y. Perry, Hazel M. Petticoles, Kenneth W. Presgrave, Hillary Jean Quade, Teresa Ann Randolph, Frances Margaret Redman, William Matthew Ridgell, James Allen Russell, Lacey Santora, Kelly Leigh Sebrell, Billy Lee Shamburg, Alice B. Thomas, Justin Ray Totten, Tresa Dorlena Walker-Santos, Hilda Mae Whalen, Frances Elizibith Wong, James Francis Wood Jr., Joyce Elaine Young and James Andrew Zalovick.

The GED program offers adult basic education classes, English as a second language classes, GED preparation classes and a Maryland high school diploma through GED testing.

The External Diploma program is for adults 18 and older who have acquired high school level skills through life experiences. These adults can earn a Maryland high school diploma through work done at home and through evaluation appointments.

For more information on the GED or the External Diploma programs, call 301-753-1774.