Madison County Reads Ahead celebrates local high school graduates from library literacy programs. From left, grads are Lisa DeMello, Jaime Miller, Hannah Rice and Eva Chasse-Daly. (Photo by Cindy McCall).
(Chittenango, NY – June 25, 2015) On Thursday June 18 at the Sullivan Free Library in Chittenango, Madison County Reads Ahead (MCRA) held a graduation ceremony for students who received their high school equivalency. These students all earned their diploma through one-on-one tutoring programs at a public library in Madison County. After reaching this educational milestone, graduates go on to new job opportunities, career training programs, or college.
Tutors, friends, and family all gathered to celebrate the achievements of the graduates. Graduates spoke briefly in turn as each accepted their diploma, thanking those who had helped them earn their high school equivalency. The ceremony included a speech by student speaker Jaime Miller of Oneida, who told of her journey to achieve her academic goals.
“I am proud of each and every one of you,” said Miller. “And I couldn’t be more thankful to be here today.”
Adult education programs state-wide have made the transition from GED programs, in which New York State no longer participates, to the new TASC (HSE) exams. Madison County Reads Ahead’s HSE programs are free of charge and open to adults over the age of 18 who are able to meet weekly for tutoring. MCRA provides high school equivalency tutoring and also acts as a referral source for educational and career services programs in Madison County.
Through Madison County Reads Ahead, educational programs are offered at eight local libraries in Madison County. Learners work one-on-one with trained volunteer tutors at flexible times that suit their schedules. Tutoring programs are learner-centered and can especially help students who find they don’t get enough attention in a classroom setting.
For more information about library high school equivalency programs, call Tara Truett, Director of Madison County Reads Ahead, at (315) 345-1468.