GED Graduates Teach Life Lessons to Others

The GED graduation held May 14 at Rockingham Community College highlighted several individuals: those who used RCC's online GED courses to prepare for the GED tests, those who earned a total score of at least 3000 on the GED tests and the three individuals - Crystal Carter, Michael Foster and Brittany Patton - who received scholarships to continue their education at RCC. Those three were asked to speak at the graduation ceremony.

A mother of three boys, Carter wants to become a respiratory therapist. She said she tells her sons that, "Education is the door to opportunity, security and happiness." By continuing her education, she hopes she is being a good role model.

Foster, 17, who's ultimate goal is to be a director of music, said, "From the first moment at RCC, the staff, faculty and my peers welcomed me with open arms."

Patton, a mother of one, works in a physician's office and wants to be a nurse. She explained that although she was blessed with a healthy baby, not everyone is so fortunate. Those, she said, are the people she wants to help, by caring for their babies.

Graduation speaker, Ron Shaeffer, a consultant and a GED instructor, told the graduates, "No one understands the day-to-day struggles many of these students go through. I have been impressed with the lessons I have learned from them on commitment, determination and dedication. What," he asked, "is the next lesson you are going to teach?"

Shaeffer encouraged the graduates to continue learning.

"Today, the title you go by is 'graduate.' Celebrate your accomplishments. Cherish it. Tomorrow, question your future because many people who have earned their GED's - Bill Cosby, Peter Jennings, Mary Lou Retton and Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas - have gone on to do great things."

Graduates are: Jose A. Bahena, Chiquita D. Baity, Johanna Banda, Selma W. Beville, Brooke D. Blake, Heather F. Blakely, Joshua A. Blakely, Christina Blassingame, Jimmy E. Broadnax, Ronald A. Campbell, Patricia Carelock, Crystal D. Carter, Judy S. Carter, Richard L. Carter, Marquitta L. Cheeks, Donald W. Craddock, Tonya J. Cross, Mary E. Dickerson, Jerry W. Dishmon, Michael A. Dodson, Warren W. Dodson, Kimberly D. Dolores, Andrew L. Dreyer, Emille B. Eggleston, Elizabeth Fields, Christina N. Ford, Johnny R. Foster, Michael L. Foster, Anna A. Gainey, Heath C. Gauldin, Ericca M. Gibson, Vickie L. Gilmore, Tiffany L. Goolsby, Maria D. Gordon, Michele C. Harrelson, Jennifer J. Hickman, Melissa A. Hicks, Stephanie M. Hipps, Caitlin C. Hodges, Marilyn A. Holley.

Also, Latosha M. Howard, Steven J. Hundley, James A. Isley, Pamela R. Jennings, Christana L. Kellam, Bobby R. Lineberry, Jr., Melissa R. Lockington, Katherine A. Milan, Lavonda R. Moore, Regina W. Moriarty, Jerry L. Oxedine, Sr., Brittany S. Patton, Joshua W. Perdue, Kendrell J. Pinnix, Clyde D. Poindexter, Lisa F. Price, Johnny R. Pulliam, Linda M. Pulliam, Jonathan R. Smith, Robert W. Smith, Vanessa K. Smith, Victoria A. Spears, William A. Stadler, Theodore J. Vincent, Brian L. Walker, Connie M. Walker, Alisa D. Warf, Devon S. Wheeler, Jarvis A. Wilson, Sara E. Wright.