West Piedmont Regional Adult Education Blog

Race to GED Scholarship Golf Tournament

It’s a beautiful 60 degrees outside today which makes us all develop spring fever and the desire to go outside. I wanted to remind you of a wonderful spring event that will take place Friday, April 16, at 1PM at the Forest Park Country Club in Martinsville. That’s our Race to GED Scholarship Golf Tournament. The cost to play is a low $45 per person (much less than most charity tournaments). This low cost includes golf, cart, lunch, gift bag, and a chance to win some fabulous prizes. In fact the first place team wins $400 cash!

All proceeds go to providing GED test scholarships for area adults who need a GED credential. Our philosophy at West Piedmont Regional Adult Education is that no area adult should miss getting a GED credential because he/she cannot afford the test fee.

Why don’t you join us on April 16?

Would you like to be a sponsor?

For more information on playing or on becoming a sponsor, please contact John Kovack at 1-540-484-1324 or by emailing him at john.kovack@frco.k12.va.us.

Pittsylvania County GED Week March 1-5

Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, in partnership with the Pittsylvania County Adult Education, has declared March 1-5, 2010, as Pittsylvania County GED Week. During GED Week, 100 free GED tests will be offered at the Pittsylvania County Career and Technical Center in Chatham specifically for Pittsylvania County residents.

These free tests are scheduled for Monday-Tuesday, March 1-2, and Thursday-Friday, March 4-5, beginning at 3:00 PM. A third test is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, beginning at 8:30 AM, for adults who cannot test during the week.

To be eligible for these free GED tests, Pittsylvania County adults must be 18 years of age or older and not enrolled in public school. Seating is limited for the free GED tests and first-time test takers will be given top priority for those seats.

Candidates must present a valid government-issued photo ID and register in person before 12:00 noon February 26 to reserve a seat. Appointments to register for the test may be made by calling Michelle Scarce at 434-432-9416.

New Year’s Resolutions

Wow! Here we are already into 2010! It seems as though time is really racing by, doesn’t it? Before you know it, you’ll be writing 2011 on your checks.

Have you started working towards your GED? Perhaps you have taken all five content tests, but need to score a few more points before you achieve your GED credential. Maybe you have been planning to go to class or to test again in one or more subjects, but you just haven’t gotten around to it yet.

Think about how quickly 2009 sped by. Why not make a resolution to finally work towards that GED credential? We are ready to help you prepare for and then take the test. There are day and evening classes in all of the five counties served by West Piedmont Regional Adult Education. Online classes are available for adults whose schedules do not allow them to participate in person. Tests are available in each locality every month - and we can even add extra testings to accommodate your personal schedule.

Don’t let 2010 fly by without completing this important goal. The economy is turning around. Having your GED certificate in hand will make you more competitive for that new job that is coming. Call us today and let us help you prepare for that job.

GED Success Story

Determination is Davis Hancock’s middle name. There were considerable obstacles in his path to obtaining a GED credential, but he refused to let those obstacles block him from his goal.

Davis did not possess strong reading skills. So he set about improving them by reading everything he could. This single father even asked his 7 year old daughter, Shanielle, to help him with his reading. Strong family support kept him focused during this time.

When he enrolled in GED classes, Davis walked an hour and from class each day carrying a backpack full of textbooks. For a month, his dedication to learning kept him busy 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Then Davis took the GED test and successfully completed 4 of the 5 subjects. He refused to be discouraged and applied those newly found study habits to strengthening his math skills. One month later, he passed his math test and received his GED certificate.

Davis says that he had an attitude problem as a teenager. He didn’t feel that an education was necessary nor worth his time and effort.  A poor employment record and lack of education eventually led him to nearly 3 years of unemployment.

“I looked in the mirror one day and realized that I had to do better for my kids. At that moment, I changed my life and stopped doing some things I had been doing. I saw a commercial on TV for the GED test. The next day I went to The Franklin Center and enrolled in class. It was not easy, but I walked by faith every day that I could do this. And I did. ”

After passing the GED test, Davis began working towards an associate’s degree in criminal justice administration at Patrick Henry Community College, Franklin Site. Once he receives that degree, Davis is considering two options:  a military career or pursuing a law degree.

Davis feels that obtaining his GED credential is the biggest accomplishment of his life (other than being a good father to his two children, Shanielle, now 8, and Xzavier, 5). “Now I see pride in my children’s eyes. And when I look at them, failure is not an option.”

Save the Date!

The Race to GED Scholarship Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, April 16, 2010, at Forest Park Country Club in Martinsville. Starting time is 1:00 PM. Last year’s event (our first) was terrific. We had great prizes, great food, and lots of fun. Even better, we raised enough money to help pay for nearly 90 GED tests! We hope you will join us for our second annual tournament. If you want to participate, call John Kovack at 1-540-484-1324.

GED Testing Before Holidays

Looking to go to college or other training in the Spring? Many programs of study require a high school diploma or GED prior to registering for the classes. We still have GED Test dates available before the holidays for adults who wish to enroll in college or other training in January. Check our calendar for test dates in your county. Or call us at 1-888-GED-4-ALL (433-4255) to find out about all upcoming test dates.

Class Changes in Henry County

Henry County Adult Education announces class changes for the Fall Semester:

NEW CLASSES:

Adult Basic Education on Mondays & Wednesdays from 4-7PM (starts November 11) at the Adult Learning Center

ABE/Spanish/ESOL on Mondays  7:15 - 8:45PM (starts November 16) at the YMCA in Collinsville

CANCELLED Classes:

StarTek classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays have been cancelled indefinitely.

For more information, call 276-632-6017 or visit http://www.henry.k12.va.us/Adult-Education.html.

FREE GED Tests

FREE GED tests are being held in the West Piedmont region in November.

Test dates are:

Henry County - (276-632-6017) - Monday & Tuesday, November 2 & 3, starting at 9:00AM

Pittsylvania County - (434-432-9416) Wednesday & Thursday, November 4 & 5, starting at 3:00PM

Franklin County - (540-483-0179) Saturday, November 7, starting at 8:30AM

Patrick County - (276-694-6542) Monday & Tuesday, November 16 & 17, starting at 9AM

Martinsville City - (276-403-5466) Tuesday & Wednesday, November 17 & 18, starting at 3:00PM

Advance registration is required. Contact the adult ed center closest to you to schedule an appointment to register. Must be 18 years of age or older, not enrolled in public school, and must have 2 forms of official ID (one must be government issued photo ID, such as driver’s license, state ID card, or passport).

GED and Lifelong Learning Week Events

GED Week events are happening all over the West Piedmont Adult Education region. Check them out below. Note that you can win FREE tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25. You just have to be 18 or older and present at the event to win the tickets.

Win FREE Tickets to TUMS Fast Relief 500

Yes, that’s right. You have the opportunity to win FREE tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speeday on Sunday, October 25!

As part of our celebration of GED and Lifelong Learning Week (October 19-23), we will be giving away FREE race tickets to some lucky people who are celebrating with us! These tickets are the courtesy of the West Piedmont Investment Board.

Tune in the week of October 12 to learn how you could win tickets and also about all the events we have going on in the West Piedmont Region during GED and Lifelong Learning Week.