ATC wants students to ‘Cause the Ripple’

Be the stone, cause the ripple is more than a mere statement to faculty and staff of Athens Technical College; it is the driving force behind the practice of their Adult Education program.

Athens Technical College (ATC) hosted a fundraiser barbecue luncheon Friday in Greene County, sponsored by Athens Regional Health System. Not only did the event contain fine food but it also provided participants with a taste of down home southern music. As students, business leaders of Greene County and faculty enjoyed their lunches they were serenaded by the striking tones of the Pullin’ Strings quartet. The key focus of the luncheon was to raise awareness of how adult education influences the economics of a community and to raise funds for the adult education program, which is supported by the Athens Tech Foundation.

The core objective of the adult education program is to create a workforce for Georgia and a future for families by enabling them to acquire the necessary basic skills in reading, writing, computation, speaking and listening. By acquiring these skills adults will be able to compete successfully in today’s workplace.  

Georgia’s adult learners who want to improve their education have access to free programs that offer adult education and GED preparation through the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) Office of Adult Education. The only cost that adult learners have to pay is the GED test fee, but fees for the five-part exam have increased from $95 to $160 as of July 1. The new price structure applies to all current tests and coincides with the nationwide implementation of a computer-based GED test.

“The computer-based GED test is being implemented nationwide, and Georgia is one of the first states to use it,” said Beverly Smith, TCSG assistant commissioner of adult education.

Qualified students who cannot afford the fees are eligible to apply for grants through TCSG colleges and local community organizations. This is where Athens Technical College steps in. ATC works hard to relieve struggling students of this financial roadblock on the path to a promising future. Athens Tech Foundation provides students with GED scholarships along with GED prep classes that are available at no charge. The program also offers more than 34 programs in business, health, technical and manufacturing-related majors.  

“It’s important that we get the support that the students need, and this program has helped many individuals move forward in their lives,” said Beverly Hafenbrack, Clarke County adult education instructor of the program.

Athens Technical College provides GED preparation courses and testing to a 10-county service area: Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Greene, Clarke, Oconee, Elbert, Wilkes, Hart, Walton and Madison. Several of the counties are ranked among the highest poverty rates in the state. Clarke (36.3 percent), Elbert (20.8 percent), Greene (19.9 percent), Taliaferro (31.6 percent) and Wilkes (23.2 percent) counties have poverty rates above the state average of 16.6 percent for all persons living below the poverty level, according to The Georgia County Guide, 2010.    

“For thousands of Georgia citizens, adult education is the only avenue available to them for the economic improvement of their families,” said Flora W. Tydings, president of Athens Technical College. “When adults return to school through our adult education program, their children then have educational role models to follow.”

Avis Stonum, a student who finished the program states, “the program is definitely a second chance to move forward in your own life while encouraging others to move forward by getting their GED.”

Like many adults within the program, Avis is no stranger to hard times. During the luncheon, Avis shared her story of poverty and struggle, but this particular tale of woe does not contain a forlorn ending. With the help of the Athens Tech Foundation and the faculty of Athens Technical College, Avis received her GED within six months and is now moving forward to pursue an associate’s degree.  

Paige Burnette, another student in the GED program states that she “learned more from the program than she did when she was in high school.”

For further information about GED fees, testing, and admission into the program, visit www.AthensTech.edu/Foundation or call the H.T Edwards Campus, (706) 357-5281.

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