Jay County celebrated 37 GED graduates

Twenty-five years ago this week, Jay County was celebrating education.

The May 22, 1996, edition of The Commercial Review featured coverage of Jay County Academy for Self-Improvement’s 17th annual GED graduation ceremony.

That year’s class included 37 graduates, including 75-year-old Dorothy Whitelock.

“I’m so very proud of each and every one of you,” said guest speaker Jan Truby, director of Jay County Employment and Training Services. She referred the event as “a celebration of the progress you made toward your graduation, the celebration of your commitment to reach your high school degree.”

She went on to congratulate the graduates for putting in the time and work it took to earn the GED and encouraged them to help friends pursue diplomas as well.

“The challenge that I have for you is I believe when you accomplish something you worked very hard on you need to share the wealth,” Truby said. “You may be the one person supporting or encouraging them.”

The ceremony also included The Portland Foundation awarding $1,000 scholarships to previous GED program graduates Martha Taylor, Cheryl Buckingham, Belinda Myers and Candice Hutzler. All four planned to take college courses that fall.

It marked the first time the scholarships were made available to past GED program graduates.

Sam Shoemaker, director of adult education in Jay County, offered his congratulations to the scholarship recipients.

“You earned a right to be a role model,” he said. “You earned a right to make a difference.

“This is just the first stage. Go for it.”