December 20, 2001

DEADLINE PROMPTS DOZENS TO GET GED DIPLOMA

A national deadline for individuals to pass tests under the old GED guidelines has prompted 90 people in the five-county area of Iowa Lakes Community College to finish work on their diplomas.

The National G-E-D Testing Service is in the process of updating their high school equivalency tests and those students who started under the ‘old’ system were given until mid-December to finish – or else they’d have to start from the beginning.

“We had two people who came in who had started their test 20 years ago who were able to finish,” said Barb Grandstaff, GED coordinator.  “The teachers and the students worked exceptionally hard because every person who took all five tests passed.” 

They gave it their all – both teachers and students. 

“Teachers came in and worked with students on weekends, testers would stay late and put in extra hours to take tests out to the other counties more frequently,” Grandstaff said.  “We put a lot of effort into this at Iowa Lakes to make sure that anyone who wanted to finish, could.” 

Grandstaff saw a lot of successful – and happy – people.

“There was one young woman who worked and worked on her math test,” she said.  “She passed and was thrilled!”

About two years ago, the GED testers identified about 150 students who they thought needed to come in and finish their tests.

“When it came down to the end – 90 people finished – that’s just incredible!  Between July and December we had 90 and in a normal year it’s approximately 60 to 70 graduates,” Grandstaff said. 

And, Grandstaff and her team are already looking for more successes next year.

“Another good thing about this is that I already have people who have called and want to work on their GED starting in January under the new test,” she said.  “So the most important thing is that we’re still here.  The GED is still around for adults who need to complete their high school education.” 

And, Iowa Lakes Community College will continue to help individuals with their education – both with the GED and with college.

“Thanks to Tammy Higgins of our Foundations Office, we’re able to give every one of our graduates a $100 scholarship to attend Iowa Lakes,” Grandstaff said.

Iowa Lakes Community College has Success Centers at each of their campuses and centers. Staff members at the Success Center are available daytime and evening hours to meet with students. If you need more information about the GED tests contact Barb Grandstaff at 1-800-242-5108 ext. 232.