104 graduate adult education program

Stories of perseverance, hard work and faith were shared Thursday evening as 32 Adult Education and Literacy program participants attended a graduation ceremony.

Having completed their high school equivalency through the program, 104 graduates were invited to the ceremony at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.

As the graduates in attendance walked on stage, they were introduced by their teachers, who shared stories about each student.

The teachers spoke of adults who wanted to better their lives for themselves and for their families by earning their high school equivalency. And although many of the students had obstacles to overcome in life, they persevered and earned their certificate.

Students took classes and tests in Cape Girardeau, Marble Hill, Missouri, and Perryville, Missouri.

James N. Yount, an honor student graduate of the Adult Education and Literacy program, watches the ceremony Thursday at the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

"The job I have is a dream job, because I get to be here tonight and enjoy this absolutely marvelous celebration with the graduates," said Becky Atwood, coordinator of the Adult Education and Literacy program.

Kyley Thornton of Cape Girardeau was among those graduates. Thornton said she would've graduated high school in 2000, but dropped out before earning a diploma.

After an injury left her unable to continue working as a certified nursing assistant, Thornton decided it was time to earn her high school equivalency.

Thornton worked toward earning her certificate for a year, and last April, she passed the test.

"It was breathtaking," she said of learning her test score. And Thornton hasn't stopped continuing her education.

She went on to graduate from the medical office specialist program at the Career and Technology Center and is taking online courses through Kaplan University to earn a degree in medical office management.

"I'm just so happy and thankful I was actually able to do it," Thornton said of graduating. "Some people are not as fortunate to have all the support that I have had."

Graduate Dylan Hill, 23, took the equivalency courses through Teen Challenge in Cape Girardeau.

Hill plans to pursue a vocational degree, but first will go to Bible college to become a pastor. And before graduating Thursday, Hill and others at Teen Challenge thanked their teacher, Rollene Storms.

"[Storms] kept us motivated and kept pressing us, even when we didn't feel like doing work," Hill said. "Personally, she kept pushing me, and I needed that."

As the students faced the crowd and moved their tassels from right to left, symbolizing their accomplishment, the audience of family and friends cheered and applauded.

And after the ceremony, Thornton's mother, Yvonne Johnson, took pictures of her daughter with family.

"It's never too late to achieve your goals in life," she said.

klamb@semissourian.com

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