June

2018

07:00 AM

Europe/Amsterdam

High School Equivalency Program Yields Over 130 Graduates

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso

GED Grad 2018 Mortar Board

A high school equivalency graduate shows off her mortar board decorated with yellow roses and the saying,” Behind you are the challenges. Before you lies new hope.” The College’s Adult Education and Literacy Department held a graduation ceremony in Richardson Performance Hall on June 2 with 70 of the 130 completers walking the stage. (Credit: Del Mar College Office of College Relations)

Determination to get a high school diploma, or the equivalent, kept them going. Over 130 students completed Del Mar College Adult Education and Literacy Department’s program (formerly the General Education Development or GED program) as they faced challenges and beat the odds to earn their certificates.

The College will hold the ceremony Thursday night, June 21, in Richardson Performance Hall with nearly 70 students walking the stage. Jonathan Grant Brown, program manager at AVID for Higher Education, will give the keynote address.

The College’s Adult Education and Literacy Department provides developmental education––including basic academic, language and personal skills study––to students ineligible or unprepared to enter college credit courses. Students prepare to take and pass the GED test to earn their certificates, which is equivalent to a high school diploma, as they prepare for college.

Keynote speaker Jonathan Grant Brown giving address onstage

Keynote speaker Jonathan Grant Brown, educator and program manager with AVID for Higher Education, addresses the Class of 2018 of the Adult Education and Literacy Department’s high school equivalency program during the June 21 graduation ceremony in Richardson Performance Hall. (Credit: Del Mar College Office of College Relations)

Valdar the Viking with Adult Education and Literacy Graduates_2018

Del Mar College mascot, Valdar the Viking (center), poses with four Adult Education and Literacy Department high school equivalency graduates out of the 70 who walked the stage in Richardson Performance Hall on June 21. Overall, 130 individuals completed the program to make up the Class of 2018. (Credit: Del Mar College Office of College Relations)

The Class of 2018 graduates from the DMC Adult Education and Literacy Department include:

Michael Abrego, Valedictorian

Seandan Abshire

Edward Aldrete

George Alvarez

Mark Alvarez

Vanessa Yvette Andrade

Andrea Balboa

Seth Baldwin

Gilbert Benavides

Megan Benavides

Miranda Borrego

Gabriela Bueno

Amna Butt, Honors

Nicholas Cady, Honors

Diana Carrera

Tehya Carter

Satori Castillo, Honors

Xueying Chen

Anastasiia Chernova

Ryan Clark

Travis Collingsworth, Honors

Benjamin Contreras

Nathaniel Crane

John Crumpler

Joanna Cruz

Brayden Davis, Honors

Steffany De Los Santos

Brenda Deedrick

Bethany Erwin

Jade Fenech, Honors

Alex Fletcher

Andrea Flores

Naomi Gallegos

Angel Galvan

Santos Galvan

Andrew Garcia

Christina Garza

Nadia Garza, Honors

Sarah Gloria

Josue Gonzalez

June Gonzalez

Vanessa Gonzalez

Brittanee Green

Michael Green

Steven Greenfield, Honors

Christoval Guerra

Alejandro Guerrero, Honors

Veronica Hackfeld

Floyd Hale

Daisha Harris

Reagan Heard

Elisha Henderson, Honors

Cynthia Hernandez

Melissa Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez

Jacqueline Houghtaling

Sherry Howerton, Honors

Raquel Humphries

Irene Jimenez

Rickie Johnson

Kathryn Jones, Honors

Federico Juarez Jr.

Andrea Kuklewski

Skyler Lake, Honors

Corinne Lelis

Mallory Lerma

Ray Rusty Limon Jr.

Kristen Loera

Austin Lopez

Deanna Lopez

Jaime Lopez

Maeryn Lopez

Mellie Loredo

Erica Lucio

Briana Luna

Barbara Macrum

Abraham Maldonado

Cristian Marrero, Honors

Julianne Martinez

Heedi Ann Mayen

April Mendez

Ernest Jay Mendoza

Mia Miller

Mark Montalvo

Paulette Moreno

Adam Muguerza

April Munoz

Sarah Munoz

April Marie Ochoa

Oscar Olivarez, Honors

David Olvera

Jerry Ortiz

Maria Ortiz

Paulo Ortiz, Honors

Fabby Ann Padilla

Bridgette Perez

Trista Phelps

Jody Pruneda

Vanida Quijas

Martin Reyna

Clarissa Rios

Dominique Rodriguez

Leeanne Rodriguez

Raiden Rodriguez

Seth Rodriguez

Vicente Romero

Aaron Rose, Honors

Antonio Saldana

Selena Saldana

Victoria Saldana

Graciela Sanchez

Jesus Sanchez

Jonathan Sanchez

Jordyn Brianne Sena

Taryn Shepherd, Honors

Alyzie Smith

Dillon Strode, Honors

Ryan Thomas

Aurora Torres

Beatriz Trevino

Rikardo Trevino, Honors

Angelica Valdez De Taylor

Teresa Vannoy

Dianna Villa

Naylene Villa

Valerie Villarreal

Dawson Voris

Pyper Wells, Honors

Christian West

Amanda Williams

Robbie Williams

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.