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GED® and High School Completion Graduation Celebration
Black Hawk College recently celebrated the accomplishments of 100 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 2024-25 school year.
Seventy-one students earned their GED® (now called the State of Illinois High School Diploma) and 29 earned their high school diploma.
View photos from the celebration.
At the ceremony, GED® graduates Brittany Huston and Shawneeka Buckner shared their stories of struggle, detours and perseverance.
Brittany Huston
Brittany Huston
Worthless. Hopeless. Dropout.
These three words were used harshly to describe me at one point in my life, and I have to admit that for some time I truly believed that they defined who I was as a person. I let self-doubt run the show. Addiction took over and I lost everything – my home, my kids, my freedom, respect, and I lost myself.
I finally was able to get my feet on somewhat solid ground when I found recovery but there were still a lot of storms and wreckage I had to walk through from my past.
I finally had the confidence to try one more time.
Worthless? No. I am PRICELESS.
Hopeless? I am almost a decade now in recovery (nine years this fall) I am over flowing with hope as well as giving it to anyone and everybody!
Dropout? Not a chance! I am a graduate! Because I chose to do what was important to me and show that even with the odds stacked against you, that can do anything too!
All of us for one reason or another were not able to graduate on time or with our graduating class. Yet here we are! That is incredible!
Shawneeka Buckner
Shawneeka Buckner
Most 15-year-olds were getting driving or workers permits or the newest iPhone but I was finding new ways to numb or express my pain. I got into trouble a lot and ended up getting pregnant and soon found myself homeless. Even then I still tried to go to school.
I remember one time a teacher yelled at me until he was red in the face for not turning in my homework and my only thought was, “How could I make homework a priority when I had to figure out where I was going to sleep every night?” I left school in the middle of class and didn’t go back.
I have had many people try to help me get on the right track and even tried going back to finish school two more times, but I never lasted longer than a month or so.
I am grateful to have been able to enroll in this GED program. That single decision was one of the best things I could have ever done for myself!
I am still not sure how far I’ll go or where I will end up, but I know I am exactly where I need to be.
I hope to show others that no matter the circumstances and no matter how much time has passed, continuing your education is very possible and can be life changing!
GED® and high school completion classes
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
- Black Hawk College Adult Learning Center
- Black Hawk College Community Education Center
- High Roads Advantage
2004 SE. Third St., Aledo
309-582-8181