Photo Caption Above: (photo by Harper Hollon) Thirty-one students participated in the recent GED graduation ceremony at SUSCC.
Opelika, AL — Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) proudly celebrated the achievements of its GED graduates during a recent graduation ceremony, recognizing not only academic accomplishments but also significant strides in workforce readiness.
This year, the Adult Education program served over 1,330 students, with 61 earning their GED. Of those, 31 students participated in the formal graduation ceremony.
Beyond earning a high school equivalency, students in the program also took advantage of numerous career training opportunities. In total, students earned 976 workforce credentials in non-credit areas such as OSHA safety training, CNA certification, forklift operation, and digital literacy. Additionally, 141 students earned their WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificates, validating essential workplace skills to employers.
From the most recent graduating class, 30 graduates are currently enrolled in higher education, with 27 of them attending Southern Union. Eight students have entered the workforce, one has joined the military, and three others are preparing to enroll at Southern Union in the spring.
Southern Union’s English Language Learner (ELL) students—who complete these achievements in English rather than their native languages—also reached significant milestones. Forty-seven ELL students earned CPR certification, and 167 NorthStar Digital Literacy Certificates were awarded. Notably, three students completed all 17 modules of the NorthStar course and earned college credit for CIS 130 – Introduction to Information Systems.
ELL students also earned a variety of additional credentials, including one Forklift Operator certificate, three WorkKeys certifications (two at the Bronze level and one at Silver), three Smart Work Ethic completions, one OSHA 10- and 30-hour course completion, and one COVID-19 Awareness for Food Workers certification. In addition, three students earned Alabama Certified Employee (ACE) certificates, and three received Manufacturing and Hospitality (MAP) certifications.
One ELL student earned a GED this year, while two others are actively working toward completing theirs. Two ELL students are also dually enrolled and currently pursuing certificates in Child Development and Nursing.
“These numbers are more than statistics—they represent real stories of resilience, perseverance, and transformation,” said Connor Chauveaux, Adult Education Director at SUSCC. “Our graduates are entering college, joining the workforce, and gaining the skills needed to succeed in life and career.”
Southern Union remains committed to supporting adult learners through flexible instruction, integrated career training, and strong support systems designed to empower students at every step of their journey.
All Adult Education and ELL classes are offered free of charge. For more information about the GED and Adult Education programs at Southern Union, visit www.suscc.edu.
