Dennis and Sandy DeFir of Horn Lake had two good reasons to celebrate on June 4. Their two older children, Amber, 19, and Kevin, 16, were among 89 students who received their General Education Development (GED) certificates in a commencement program held at Howard Coliseum on the Senatobia campus of Northwest Mississippi Community College.

Amber, who wants to attend nursing school, had dropped out of the Gateway homeschooling program and started working full-time. A desire to return to school prompted her to get involved with the Adult Basic Education program and pass her GED. “She plans to try and start getting her basics so she can get into the nursing program,” Sandy DeFir said. “She wants to start at Northwest DeSoto Center this fall.”

For Kevin, it was the Youth Challenge Program that helped him complete his GED. He now would like to return to school to take Air Conditioning and Heating, although he is not sure yet where he wants to go. He is very excited about returning to school, his mother said.

The family was very happy that the two were able to walk together in their commencement. “I was so glad they got to do it,” DeFir said. “ Kevin went through the Youth Challenge Program, and was not supposed to walk with her, but the Northwest Adult Basic Education people allowed him to. We were all really excited about the commencement.”

The keynote speaker at the June 4 ceremony was Dr. Chuck Strong, vice president for Educational Affairs at Northwest. He encouraged the students to appreciate the milestones they had reached. “Your education is something no one can take from you.You should be proud of your accomplishment,” Strong said in his address. The certificates were awarded by Joe Broadway, executive assistant to the president and district dean of Career-Technical education at Northwest.

Guy Purdy, director of Adult Basic Education, recognized several students who had scored above 500 on portions of the GED exam. He encouraged all the students to further their education. “We are so proud of what you have achieved. There are great academic and career-technical programs available to you here at Northwest to take advantage of,” Purdy said. The students and their families were treated to a reception after the ceremony.

For more information about the Adult Basic Education and GED programs at Northwest, contact Purdy at 662-562-3401 or e-mail gpurdy@northwestms.edu.