HCC CELEBRATES GED SUCCESS STORY

Pictured with Glenda Marks are Literacy Skills Instructor Brian Hopkins, left, and Literacy Skills Specialist Brenda Cousins with Literacy Education Director Ada Harriss

The General Educational Development (GED) Program is one part of Halifax Community College's (HCC) Literacy Education Program. The college has an open-door policy of continuing education for everyone who has the need and desire to learn. Any adult, 18 years or older, may enroll and there is no registration fee, with classes that are open-entry, open-exit.

Glenda Marks is a GED graduate who finished the program in January 2007. “It was a desire of my heart for about 30 years,” she said. “You have to have it to progress.”

“I give God the praise,” Marks continued, who held on to scriptures from the Bible, namely Philippians 4:13 and Matthew 19:26, to meet the challenge of going back to school. Marks completed her GED in five months, taking a test each month and meeting a personal goal.

Her motivation was getting a better job. “I had to have discipline and needed to stay motivated,” she said. Balancing personal and professional obligations with school can be demanding.

Before earning her GED, Marks worked at a furniture store for 26 years, but wanted a change. She started a cleaning service and at the same time, decided to increase her education and get a GED. Currently, she is continuing to work in her business and take computer classes at HCC.

“HCC is a great place. They have the nicest people there. They helped me every step of the way and I received a lot of encouragement,” said Marks. “I encourage others who need a GED or degree to try it. The first step is to walk through the door.”

HCC is a licensed GED test center open to those interested in registering for the exam. The GED exam offers high school equivalency credentials to individuals who did not obtain a high school diploma. Five subject areas including language arts/reading, social studies, science, language arts/writing and mathematics are tested. The only cost of the program is the exam fee of $7.50.

A minimum score of 410 on each of the five tests and a total score of 2250 for the entire test is required to earn a GED. Preparation can be completed at the HCC Learning Lab on the main campus or at the Adult Basic Education/GED off-campus sites. Students who successfully complete the exam are awarded a high school diploma equivalency from the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges. The GED diploma enables students to pursue certificate, diploma, and degree programs. For more details on the GED Program, call (252) 536-HCC1 (4221).