First-Ever GED Graduation to be Held at Lone Star College-Montgomery
While Lone Star College-Montgomery has offered General Education Development (GED) testing and test preparation for years, it had never held a graduation ceremony to acknowledge the hard work and determination that its GED students put into the program. That is, until now.
With more than 180 students who have received their GED since September 2007, LSC-Montgomery will hold its first-ever GED graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. in the college’s theatre (Building D). College officials are excited about this opportunity to officially recognize their accomplishments.
“For many of our GED students, this program represented a second chance to finish high school,” said Linda Head, dean of continuing education, workforce and academic support at LSC-Montgomery. “Some of our sister colleges have held GED graduation ceremonies for years, and it is one of the more emotional, inspiring events in the life of the college. There are some intense, gut-wrenching stories of students overcoming great odds to arrive at this moment.”
One of those students is Ronny McCaffrey, who plans to have his family attend as well. McCaffrey, who dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, saw the GED program as a chance to complete something he started more than 35 years ago.
“It’s a great program,” said McCaffrey, who moved to Texas from Ohio in 1974. “I studied at home for awhile before going up to the college and taking the test. I was nervous and thought I had no chance to pass it, but I did it on the first try.”
Working in construction for most of his life, the Conroe resident is now interested in furthering his education—possibly enrolling in the college’s machining program, which is offered at the Conroe Center.
“I see this as just a start,” McCaffrey added. “There are other things in life I want to do, and education is the key to make it happen.”
On Sunday, McCaffrey will walk across the stage with dozens of other GED graduates. LSC-Montgomery offers the chance of wearing caps and gowns to everyone who passes the exam. While some students choose not to partake in the ceremony, the students who do participate enjoy an emotional and exciting event that they thought was lost to them forever.
“For most of these students, their educational paths took a detour for one reason or another, but they now have persevered and accomplished the goal of obtaining a diploma,” said Dr. Tom Butler, president of LSC-Montgomery. “These graduates have opened doors to a brighter future. They are able to take firm steps toward achieving greater success in their academic careers, jobs and personal lives.”
Serving as guest speaker during the ceremony will be Dr. Julie Leidig, vice president of instruction at LSC-Montgomery. There will be a reception for the graduates and their friends and families immediately after the ceremony.
The GED program–first developed to provide returning World War II veterans with an opportunity to earn a high school credential–has served as a bridge to education and employment opportunities for an estimated 12.6 million since 1942. Today, approximately one in seven high school diplomas issued in the United States each year is a GED diploma.
LSC-Montgomery offers a GED review class with computerized software to prepare students for the GED test, which includes sections on writing, math, science, social studies and language arts and reading. Students must be 17 years of age or have parent or guardian permission to take the class and the GED Test, which is also offered by the college—both in English and Spanish. For the review class, students work independently on the computer with the guidance of an instructor. The college also offers both the full and partial GED test. The GED preparation and testing program is offered at the LSC-Conroe Center, which is located just east of downtown Conroe, off Highway 105 (102 Longview Street). For more information on the college’s GED program, call (936) 271-6000.
For more information about Lone Star College-Montgomery, visit Montgomery.LoneStar.edu or call (936) 273-7000. The college is located at 3200 College Park Drive, approximately one-quarter mile west of I-45 between Conroe and The Woodlands.
Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center. With 49,250 students, it is the largest college system in the Houston area, and third largest community college district in Texas. To learn more, visit http://LoneStar.edu.