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~I~ 'Never give up; keep pushing, ' urges ECCC GED graduate

Albly Tbompsoo of Forest IDII Jolmllbon Scott ofCanhage wae -a recipients of high ICbool equivalency diplomas praealed at the semi-annual OEDOr.duboo held Jan. 24, at But Central Community Collqe ia Decatur. 8ocb weft also among fea– a.ncl speakers and related their ,.,...a ksti.monials at the spe– cial ceremooy, which also iacluded remarks from Miaistippi Lt. Gov.TaleReeves wbo coqratulated graduates ..t ~ them to contin– c lbeir cduc:alioo. lbompsoo, 23, lost her home to ll•aicale Katrina in 2005 ..t was living in a lent at a raod .a as she began her sen– ior year at D'Iberville High SdKJOI. She passed first semester but .. IMIIIe to complete the sec-

math, which I finally passed on my third attempt! I bad finally completed my OED!" As he struggled to pass the math section of the OED Test, Scott said be kept remembering what his mom told him before she died on Easter Sunday 2012, "Never give up- keep pushing!" Scott encouraged others who are thinking about giving up on their dreams of a better life through education to do the same..."Never give up!" Scott plans to continue his education and become a com– puter programmer. ECCC President Dr. Bmy Stewart awarded diplomas to the 34 graduates. Other program participants include ECCC Board ofTrustees Chairman Dr. Jimmy Hollingsworth of Lake, Vice President for Instruction Dr. Teresa Houston, music instruc– tor Len Bobo and Adult Basic Education/QED instructor Bryan Burt. East Central offers free ABE/QED-Preparation classes

ood term and dropped out of school. For several years she attempted to pass the OED Test but was unsuccessful. She later moved to the Scott County area, and with her finance's assistance and encour– agement, she enrolled in OED classes offered at the Forest/Scott County Career and Technology Center. "Mrs. (Teresa) Lovett and Mrs. (Elizabeth) Nutt helped me refresh my skiUs," said Thompson, "and it wasn't long until I was prepared to take my test.. ...which I passed the first time I took it!" Thompson said she is "most appreciative" of the support from family and instructors. "The support from my finance , his mom and my instructors helped me turn my life around," she said. "I now know the future is bright for my son and me." Thompson is currently enrolled in evening and on-line classes offered by ECCC.

Scott, 19, began his educa– tion at French Camp Academy in Choctaw County. He strug– gled to succeed in math and failed the fourth grade. "My mother always told me that she wasn't good in math either, but that I needed to keep on trying," Scott said. He later attended Weir High School and eventually went to Chamberlain-Hunt Academy in Port Gibson, where be finished the eleventh grade. "Although I fmisbed the eleventh grade, I realized that not only did I not like math but math did nollike me, either!" He left Chamberlain-Hunt and spent the summer months living in Louisville with Garry and Ramona Hughes who earlier became his family's "sponsor" at French Camp. While residing in Louisville, Scott enrolled in OED classes taught by instructors Daphne Donald and Kay Ward. "They pushed me and I pushed myself," said Scott. "I passed aU the OED sections except one -

Ashly Thompson, left, of Forest and Johnathon Scott Carthage provided inspirational messages at the semi-annu GED Graduation held Jan. 24,at East Central Commun College in Decatur. They were among the 33 area residents receive high school equivalency diplomas from ECC President Dr. Billy Stewart. (EC Photo}

tor, 60 l-635-6387 or call t free, 877-462-3222, ext. 38

throughout the five-county dis– trict.

For more information, con- His

e-mail

address

tact Ryan Clarke, programdirec- rclarke@eccc.edu. C =- io If ~ ~ a. ·c c .u -z .- ::!!I t: · a I! ii ~I