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2 grads in caps & gowns smiling at cameraBlack Hawk College recently celebrated the accomplishments of 59 students at the annual GED® and High School Completion Graduation Celebration.

The event recognized Adult Education and Optional Education students from across the college district who completed all GED® or high school completion graduation requirements during the 2021-22 school year.

Optional Education graduate Lamya Wright of Colona shared her story at the ceremony. Growing up, she was a good student who liked school. But in high school, she encountered a few bumps in the road that put her off track.

grad & instructor smiling at camera

Lamya Wright, 2022 Optional Education grad, and Kirk Marske, Early School Leaver Transition Program advisor

After attending three high schools in three states, Wright came to the BHC Adult Learning Center in Rock Island in September 2021 to finish her senior year.

“Each teacher I met at ALC made a huge impact on my life,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to all the ALC teachers for helping me accomplish a lot. I had an amazing experience at the ALC … it was an amazing journey.”

Now she is planning to attend Black Hawk College to pursue her dream of becoming an EMT-paramedic.

Read Lamya Wright’s graduation speech.

See photos from the celebration on the BHC Facebook page.

GED and high school completion classes at Black Hawk College are offered at no cost to students and are conducted in a variety of locations. New sessions will begin in August.

For more information, call or visit one of these learning sites:

Black Hawk College Outreach Center
301 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline
309-796-8216

Black Hawk College Adult Learning Center
4610 Black Hawk Commons Drive, Rock Island
309-794-1072

 Black Hawk College Community Education Center
404 E. Third St., Kewanee
309-854-1875

High Roads Advantage
2004 SE. Third St., Aledo
309-582-8181