Schools

Students Earn GED and Graduation Ceremony

Arbor Education and Training LLC in New Kensington held a ceremony to honor 26 students.

In a gold graduation robe, Takayla Witcher marched on stage to grab her certificate with tears in her eyes.

The 19-year-old from New Kensington has earned her GED, and she's proud of herself.

"I did it," she said. "It feels so nice to finally have a graduation. I'm so proud of myself and my family is here. It's very overwhelming.

"When you drop out of high school, you never expect to graduate with a cap and gown. It's great to finally be wearing it."

Witcher is one of 26 students who received a GED after completing a program at Arbor Education and Training LLC in New Kensington. Students who don't graduate from high school, must pass a GED test to certify that they have high school-level academic skills.

Arbor Education and Training is a provider of workforce development services to job-seekers, workers, employers and communities nationwide. Services include training for students who want to take the GED test.   

This year, Arbor held a graduation ceremony—for the first time on Friday—at the United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington for students who received their GEDs. Families and friends watched as the graduates received certificates congratulating them for their work.

State Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, was the guest speaker at the event.

The training center serves students in Allegheny County—including Plum and Riverview school districts—and Westmoreland County.

Oakmont resident Kathy McGrath, who teaches a GED training class at Arbor, said she wanted to recognize the effort of all of her students by organizing the graduation ceremony for them.

"What these kids did was really hard," she said. "Sometimes it's just easier to get through high school. It's taken some of these students two years to pass the GED test, but now, they've done it and some even have jobs.

"They have a brighter future ahead of them. There was no way I was going to give up on them. They deserved this ceremony."

The students each received hats and a tassel to keep, along with a journal to continue their writing.

McGrath said the journals were sort of a gag gift because students had to write several essays in her class. She said students could put those writing skills to use in whatever way they choose to express themselves.

Graduate Lauren Conklin, 17, of Lower Burrell, said she encourages students who didn't graduate high school to pursue the GED.

"This was so important to me because I missed out on my high school graduation," she said. "This whole program has made an impact in my life."

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