Black Hawk College is celebrating National Adult Education Week Sept. 22-28.
Each year, approximately 1,600 students enroll in GED completion and non-credit English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Black Hawk College.
Approximately 30 million Americans age 25 and older have not earned a high school diploma or equivalent, and 93 million function below the high school level.
Adult Education programs serve individuals age 16 and older who need to improve their basic skills with an emphasis on literacy, mathematics and English language proficiency.
Black Hawk College provides Adult Education classes at no cost to students who qualify.
Instructors work with each student to design an individual learning plan that aligns to his/her goals, such as to:
- Get, retain or advance in a job.
- Get off public assistance and earn a family-sustaining income.
- Complete high school or obtain a GED certificate.
- Transfer to a community college or training program.
- Help their children succeed in school.
- Manage their family`s health care.
- Learn English, understand U.S. culture and be an informed citizen.
Black Hawk College began serving adult learners on July 1, 1969. Today, the Black Hawk College Adult Education program provides instruction in Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), high school credit and English as a Second Language (ESL).
For more information, call 309-796-8216.
Chicago man moves to QC, pursues GED at BHC
Vernon Owens is a man who decided to change his life.
He grew up in a family where education was not a high priority. For many years, the lack of a high school diploma was no big deal for him. He had street smarts, and in Chicago they served him well to keep him alive. He held various short-term jobs, but never really thought about the future or a career.
Eventually he realized that his lack of formal education and his bad habits would never get him ahead in life. He decided to leave his family and friends in Chicago and move to the Quad Cities.
In February, at the age of 56, Vernon Owens earned his GED. He was asked to be the guest speaker at the June 12 Black Hawk College GED and High School Graduation Celebration.
Owens talked about how he was "thrown out of high school for reasons such as fighting and playing hooky. I started running with the wrong crowds, picked up some bad habits and lost my way."
"Education just didn`t seem important at the time," he said.
"But I now know what it feels like to be a graduate. Not just any graduate, but a GED graduate. One of endurance, one of persistence, one who now knows that with an education comes many opportunities," Owens said.
