Celebrating Achievements by Guest Blogger and Director of Operations Paige Pushkin

The beginning notes of Pomp and Circumstance swirl around you. The auditorium is dim with bright lights focused on the stage. The anticipation builds. And then you see them, smiling students in royal blue caps and gowns leading the procession of all Literacy Action's students, dressed in their finery, down the auditorium steps.

Do you remember what it felt like to graduate? I can recall elementary school graduation in 5th grade, dressed in the pink linen suit my mom made for me, standing on the cafeteria stage grinning from ear to ear, proud of my accomplishments. Many years later there was high school graduation, and then 4 years later, college graduation, and many more years after that, I walked across the stage to accept my Master's degree diploma. Feelings of pride, accomplishment and gratitude always accompanied theses days.

It is for these feelings, and the fostering of these feelings, that Literacy Action celebrates the achievements of all of our students every year at a Student Recognition Ceremony (SRC). While GED attainment is important, only about 10% of our students enter our program at the GED level. So we celebrate achievement at every stage--moving up a level in reading or math, completing the computer or work skills classes, perfect attendance, and special merit awards, to name a few. All growth is celebrated here.

This year the SRC will be held Thursday, June 23rd at 6:00 p.m. at the Georgia-Pacific Auditorium. We always have a student speaker, student performance, and a guest speaker from the community as well. Please join us as we celebrate student achievement. And relive how good it feels to graduate.