College of DuPage celebrates student achievement at annual GED commencement ceremony
More than 250 recipients of newly-earned High School Equivalency (HSE) certificates were honored by College of DuPage's Adult Basic Education/General Education Development office at a ceremony held June 2.
To see photos from this event, go to the College of DuPage Newsroom page on Flickr.com.
The college, which became a DuPage County HSE testing site in 1997, offers a range of services for adults earning their HSE certificate. These resources have helped thousands of adults complete their high school education.
Guest student speakers Gregory Shannon, Margherita Arrowsmith, Maria Carrisoza and Molly Langlotz shared highlights of their program experience.
Other speakers included College of DuPage President Dr. Ann Rondeau, Board Vice Chairman Frank Napolitano, state Rep. David S. Olsen and Darlene Ruscitti, DuPage County Regional Office of Education Superintendent.
Recounting struggles with depression and substance abuse in high school that led to him dropping out, Napolitano reminded graduates that while their educational paths may be unconventional, their drive and perseverance are to be admired.
"I enrolled in Technology Center of DuPage and got my GED. I am now 27 years sober and I've taken every opportunity since then to find my path," he said. "Remember that we are only blocked by obstacles that get in our way or challenges we choose not to overcome."
Additionally, the June 2 ceremony honored students receiving scholarships to continue their college studies, including Linda Casey, Veronica Crisostomo, Danny Dagenhart, Christopher James Hall, Erick Alberto Hernandez Rios, Niang Sian Huai, Thomas Loper, Kayla Meimers, Joshua Meschino, Fayaz Moosa, Kristina Mura, Aung Myint, Bibiana Niang, Soe Oo, Paul Palacios, Gregory Shannon and Khua Thang. Recognized as 2018 Outstanding Achievement Graduates were Hannah Marie Ahn, Christopher James Hall, Mercedes D. Jackson, Crystal Mallory, Samantha E. North, Johnny Palomo, Christian Price, Daisy Robles, Gregory Shannon, Amanda Michelle Starczewski and Samantha Velez.
Learn more about the college's HSE program at www.cod.edu/admission/testing/hse_testing.aspx or call (630) 942-3697.