Two inspirational GED grads to speak at CLC's May 14 GED Commencement
Two adults who overcame a myriad of obstacles to obtain a GED® and then went on to pursue higher education will be the featured speakers at the College of Lake County GED (high school equivalency) commencement ceremony May 14. Maria Lawrence, a CLC student, and Dr. Jaime Quezada, an emergency medical physician, will speak at the ceremony that honors Lake County residents who have completed their high school equivalency exams.
Lawrence, a mother of four who obtained her GED in 2013, will earn an Associate in Arts degree from the college this summer. She plans to transfer to DePaul University this fall and become a social worker or teacher.
"I grew up in a crime- and drug-infested neighborhood, and after dropping out of high school at 17, I worked for years in low-skilled warehouse and assembly jobs while raising four kids by myself," Lawrence said. "I thought there must be a better life, so, at age 32, I enrolled in CLC's GED program. I am now a CLC student majoring in sociology, and my confidence level has skyrocketed. At the GED graduation ceremony in 2013, my mom and kids were in the audience, and when I walked up to receive my diploma, it was an overwhelming, I-can't-believe-it experience." Lawrence is an honors student and serves as president of Black Student Union. Read more about her at www.clcillinois.edu/testimonials/maria-lawrence.
The second speaker, Dr. Jaime Quezada, practices emergency medicine in Madison, Wis. and earned his GED in 1983. He then went on to study at Harper College, Northern Illinois University and University of Illinois. Dr. Quezada also taught at Harper College, Northern Illinois University and University of Illinois College of Medicine. He has received honors from Harper College, Rotary International, U.S. Department of Education and other organizations. Dr. Quezada has volunteered at hospitals in Haiti with the International Medical Corps and the J/P Haitian Relief Organization.
The Regional Office of Education will present awards for the highest GED score and six scholarships. The CLC Foundation will present seven scholarships for students who enroll at CLC. In addition, the Libertyville Woman's Club Scholarship winners will be named.
The ceremony is being organized by CLC's Adult Basic Education, GED and ESL division in conjunction with the Lake County Regional Office of Education. It will be live streamed on CLC's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkrxcimjzes.
For more information about CLC's adult education, ESL and GED classes, call (847) 543-2021 email adulteducation