Public Relations

Adult Education grads overcome adversity, hardship;
they celebrate May 17

BENTONVILLE (Wednesday, May 14, 2008) – Talk to graduates Saturday, May 17, at the NWACC Adult Education Commencement ceremony and two themes emerge: one, overcoming adversity and hardship and, two, the great sense of pride instilled by their accomplishments.

NorthWest Arkansas Community Adult Education Commencement is 7 p.m. Saturday at the Arend Arts Center on the campus of Bentonville High School.

Commencement speaker is NWACC Board of Trustees Chairman Coleman Peterson.

NWACC’s Adult Education program is a leader in Arkansas.

A total of 250 students are scheduled to receive GED diplomas.

A total of 154 students are scheduled to receive ESL certificates.

Both numbers are just a portion of the total students who passed their GED exam this academic year and or completed their ESL certificate program (see details below).

Two students who overcame adversity and hardship to earn their GED are Candy Helms and Elia Albarran. Both will celebrate their accomplishments May 17.

Candy Helms

Helms, of Bentonville (pictured at right with the GED math book she mastered), passed her GED test in early March. She had a medical condition in high school, she said, that prohibited her from attending; she did not have enough credits to complete her high school curriculum.

“I did not understand why I was sick until years later,” she said. “I understand now and that made me more determined to complete my GED."

She enrolled in classes at Adult Education in 2004. Things went fine until she encountered the math component.

“I got very discouraged, very frustrated,” she said.

She got married, got divorced and recently became engaged.

Along the way, she met NWACC long-time GED Instructor Linda Harris.

“Ms Harris stuck with me and refused to let me give up,” Helms said. “She was absolutely wonderful.”

Two weeks after passing her test, she went to work for Regus, a business center management company in Bentonville.

“I love the job,” she said. “It’s challenging. People come to me for help, like when they’re having trouble figuring percentages. It’s like I’ve reversed roles.”

Helms hopes to enroll at NWACC this fall to take night classes part time.

Elia Albarran

Albarran, of Rogers (pictured at right), is raising children aged 13 and 9. She works every day on a poultry processing line 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. She completed her ESL certification and then passed her GED exam. She will be recognized twice Saturday.

She attended NWACC Adult Education classes before going to work.

“I work very hard,” she said. “This place (Adult Education) became my second home.

“I am very happy, very proud of what I’ve done. My children are too.”

She said she hopes one day to be able to enroll in NWACC’s College Intensive English Program (CIEP).

“My dream job is to help other people who cannot speak English, either at a school or in a hospital,” she said.

Her two children plan to attend Saturday’s Commencement.

Commencement Speaker Coleman Peterson

Peterson is President and CEO of Hollis Enterprises, L.L.C., formed in May 2004 following his retirement as Executive Vice President of People for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Peterson had the distinction of being Chief Human Resources Officer of the world’s largest private workforce – Wal-Mart’s 1.5 million “associates” worldwide.

With more than 30 years experience in human resources, Peterson is noted for his success at Wal-Mart in building a workforce which reflects the diverse communities served.

Peterson was recently elected as a board director of both the Service Master Company in Chicago and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., of Lowell.

He is active in numerous educational, retail and professional organizations. He was appointed to the NWACC Board of Trustees in 2003 and was elected to his position thereafter.

NWACC Adult Education at a Glance

NWACC Adult Education provides expanded access to educational opportunities for the population in general, but especially for under served learners in all age groups who are disconnected from education by choice or circumstance.

NWACC Adult Education serves the community by providing individual students an education of the highest quality in a safe and encouraging environment.

Latest Facts:

• NWACC Adult Ed has served 3,317 adults so far in 2007-08; 1,389 in ESL
• NWACC Adult Ed has the largest Adult Education ESL program in Arkansas
• NWACC Adult Ed had 471 take the GED test, the 2nd highest in Arkansas
• NWACC Adult Ed had 457 of the 471 pass the GED test (97% success rate)
• NWACC Adult Ed average exceeds the state GED pass average of 84%
• NWACC Adult Ed has the 2nd highest pass rate in Arkansas
• NWACC Adult Ed has 5 trained and certified full-time instructors; 21 part-time instructors
• NWACC Adult Ed has 7 full-time staff

Location:
2800 N. Second Street Rogers
13,877 SF facility, formerly the home to Crafton Tull and Associates
Creates additional instructional space

Contact:
Ben Aldama, Dean of Adult Education baldama@nwacc.edu
Phone 479-986-6934 / Fax 479-986-6933 Website

Student Eligibility and Access
Adults over the age of 18 are welcome to attend classes if they are residents of Arkansas and are not attending grades K-12 in a public or private school.

High School Equivalency (GED) classes are open to anyone over 18 who has not completed high school or obtained a GED.

In special circumstances, a 16- or 17-year-old may be allowed to enroll in the GED program.

Costs
There is no cost for classes offered by Adult Education or the GED exam.
For some classes, there may be a small charge for books or other materials (generally not over $20 per student), but all adult education classes are free of charge.

About NWACC Adult Education Classes

• Flexible class schedules provide day and evening sessions to meet the unique needs of adult learners.
• Services are offered year-round, with both daytime and evening classes during the academic year.
• Students may enroll at any time, study at their own pace, and complete the course when they reach their personal goals.
• Instructors work with each student individually in a relaxed atmosphere.
• Computer-assisted instruction is also available at various times.

Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes are for the adult learner who wishes to brush up on reading, writing or math skills.

High School Equivalency (GED) Preparation classes are for adult learners to become prepared to take the GED exam in order to receive their Arkansas High School Diploma.

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are for adults whose native language is not English and who wish to learn the language and customs of this country.

Citizenship classes are for those adults preparing for the test to become naturalized citizens.

Basic Computer Literacy is for people who have had little or no experience with personal computers. With hands-on experience and “user friendly” instructors, students learn the basics of personal computers. NWACC Adult Education also offers these classes for adult learners free of charge at the workplace in business and industry.

For questions/comments on this content, please contact Ben Aldama.

This page was last updated on:  December 21, 2009 @ 8:51 am