Thursday, May 11, 2023
GED test graduate Eliana Jenkins shakes hands with NIC President Nick Swayne in Boswell Hall at NIC’s Coeur d’Alene campus.
More than 150 students earned their GED certificates with support from North Idaho College’s Adult Education Center and GED testing centers, and 45 of the graduates attended a graduation ceremony May 4 at Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center on NIC’s Coeur d’Alene campus
Supporters flooded Boswell Hall to celebrate graduates coming from all different backgrounds and ages, including those who dropped out of high school, were home schooled, were looking to prepare for college and more.
“There’s really no average GED student,” Bonners Ferry Adult Education Center Instructor Cyndi Clark said. “You’re unique, you’re special, you’ve made it and you should be proud.”
Other speakers, including NIC President Nick Swayne, commended graduates for their perseverance in obtaining their GED certificate.
“Education can be scary,” Swayne said. “Getting involved, taking that step and having the courage to step up and come back to school and start your education journey is incredibly brave.”
GED graduate Eliana Jenkins of Athol said the services offered at the Adult Education Center were exactly what she needed to obtain her diploma.
“As a homeschooler, I’ve always valued the freedom and flexibility that comes from learning at home, but when it came to completing my high school education, I knew I needed structure and support,” Jenkins said. “That’s why I enrolled in the GED program, and I can honestly say it has been a blessing to be a part of this community.”
The NIC Foundation offered a $1,000 scholarship to each of the GED graduates if they enroll at NIC in the fall to encourage students to continue their education.
“Come on back, continue on and we would love to have you as Cardinals here at NIC,” Swayne said.
The NIC Adult Education Center is designed to help people over the age of 16 prepare for the GED Test. Tuition is free and learning materials are provided with locations in Bonners Ferry, Coeur d’Alene, St. Maries and Sandpoint.
For more information about the Adult Education Center, contact the Adult Education Center at (208) 665-5099.