High School Equivalency (HSE) recipients and English as a Second Language (ESL) students honored at SCC’s Adult Education and Literacy Student Recognition Ceremony

Published: 06/12/2017

For Justin Mettlin, passing the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) and earning his Certified Logistics Technician certificate meant showing his children that hard work and determination pay off and that education is important. “They have gotten the chance to see me accomplish something difficult and saw that I didn’t give up,” Mettlin said. “I’m very happy to show them that hard work leads to success.”

Students were honored for their achievement at the 2017 Adult Education & Literacy (AEL) recognition ceremony June 8 at St. Charles Community College.

On Thursday, June 8, Mettlin was honored with 83 other students during a recognition ceremony for the Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program at SCC. Some 47 students were recognized for receiving their High School Equivalency credential. 

As for Mettlin’s future, the door is wide open. “I’m currently searching for an entry-level supervisor position to put my newfound knowledge to work,” he said. “I plan on going for my associate degree next.” 

Thirty-one students were acknowledged for their achievement, improvement and attendance in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. One student was honored for becoming a U.S. citizen: Ashwag Alyafai from Yemen. Fifteen students received the Attendance Award for 250 or more hours of class attendance. Thirteen students received the Continuous Improvement Award for outstanding commitment to learning a new language, and five students received the Special Achievement Award for going far beyond the expected commitment to attendance and learning. 

During the 2016-17 school year, 422 students attended high-school-equivalency preparation classes, and 104 SCC students received their HSE credentials. Four hundred and twenty-three SCC students from 55 countries took part in the ESL program. Five students were honored for receiving their Certified Logistics Technician workforce certificate, including Mettlin.

The Adult Education and Literacy program at St. Charles Community College teaches basic reading, math and writing skills to prepare people to take the HiSET (formerly GED) tests and to assist non-native speakers in gaining English proficiency. The program offers free day and evening classes in four counties; St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln and Pike. 

Learn more about the HiSET at hiset.ets.org.  For more information about the AEL program at SCC, call 636-922-8411 or visit stchas.edu/ael.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit stchas.edu.