HSE recipients and ESL students honored at SCC’s Adult Education and Literacy Student Recognition Ceremony

Published: 07/25/2019

Jonathan Osborn, HSE graduate and newly Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) and a Certified Logistics Technician (CLT), is a successful car salesman. Osborn said he came to St. Charles Community College to pass his HSE (High School Equivalency). In the past, he had made several attempts before ultimately passing the rigorous HiSET test. “Getting my diploma was more of a goal,” he said.

Jonathan Osborn, Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) honoree, about to accept his High School Equivalency credential.

On Thursday, June 6, 69 students were honored during a recognition ceremony for the Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Program at SCC. Some 36 students – including Osborn – were recognized for receiving their High School Equivalency credential.

The ceremony featured two student speakers: Wallapa Greenburg (ESL) and Ashley Duvall (HSE).

Thirty-three students were acknowledged for their achievement, improvement and attendance in the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program. Four students were honored for becoming U.S. citizens: Gafkhar Buronova (Uzbekistan); Sarvinoz Khomidova (Uzbekistan); Cuifen Liang (China); Thu Ha Dao (Vietnam). Thirteen students received the Attendance Award for 220 or more hours of class attendance. Eleven students received the Continuous Improvement Award for outstanding commitment to learning a new language, and four students received the Special Achievement Award for going far beyond the expected commitment to attendance and learning.

Students celebrate their achievement at the 2019 Adult Education & Literacy (AEL) recognition ceremony June 6 at St. Charles Community College.

During the 2018-19 school year, 289 students attended high school equivalency preparation classes, and nearly 100 SCC students received their HSE credentials. Four hundred and thirty-four SCC students from 59 countries took part in the ESL Program. One student – Paola Asmat Sovero – was honored for receiving her Certified Logistics Associate workforce certificate. Two students ­­­­– Wallapa Greenburg and Arzu Kucukkaya – were honored for earning their Certified Nursing Assistant credential. One student – Osborn ­– was honored for receiving his Certified Logistics Associate and Certified Logistic Technician credentials as well as his high school equivalency.

As access to education often encourages, Osborn saw the possibilities open up for him. He decided that while he was working on attaining his HSE he wanted to also get certifications as both a Certified Logistics Associate and Certified Logistics Technician. He does not yet know what his next move will be, but he is working on discovering his calling. “Maybe I could get a degree in logistics eventually,” he said. “But I have always had an interest in radio, marketing and communications, so maybe I’ll take that path.” 

Osborn is not alone. For many other SCC students, graduating the HiSET program and the AEL program is the catalyst to the beginning of the realization of their potential.

The Adult Education and Literacy program at St. Charles Community College teaches basic reading, math and writing skills to prepare people to take the HiSET (formerly GED) tests and to assist non-native speakers in gaining English proficiency. The program offers free day and evening classes in four counties; St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln and Pike.

Learn more about the HiSET at hiset.ets.org. For more information about the AEL program at SCC, call 636-922-8411 or visit stchas.edu/ael.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit stchas.edu.