In December, Southwest Georgia Technical College (SWGTC) named Tawana Graham its 2013 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Award winner. The EAGLE Award recognizes the educational achievement and outstanding leadership skills demonstrated by students who are in the process of studying for or have earned their GED® credential.

On March 19th, as SWGTC’s EAGLE Delegate, Graham attended the Technical College System of Georgia’s EAGLE Institute and Banquet in Atlanta. At this Institute, she was honored and recognized for her achievements, along with the 27 other delegates from technical colleges throughout Georgia.

“It was very rewarding to be a part of this great group of individuals. I really enjoyed meeting so many different people and learning about each person’s unique journey to getting their GED®. We all bonded, and I think we will continue to communicate over the years and maybe even have a reunion one day,” commented Graham.

Also during this event, Graham was named one of the eight state finalists (regional winners), out of the 28 delegates, and had the opportunity to compete for the state title.

Graham added, “When they announced that I was a finalist it brought tears to my eyes and I was filled with excitement. To be picked as one of the top eight GED® (adult education) students out of the 28

In photo: Tawana Graham, Southwest Georgia Technical College’s EAGLE Delegate for 2013, was recognized and awarded an iPad at the EAGLE Institute and Banquet.

delegates and the other 77,000 GED® (adult education) students in Georgia is such a blessing and beyond flattering.”

In photo: The eight finalists for the state EAGLE Award. Tawana (2nd from left) represented Southwest Georgia Technical College at the EAGLE Institute and Banquet hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia.

“We are so proud that Tawana was named a regional winner and finalist for the state-wide award for EAGLE. She is an outstanding person and we feel that she truly is a shining star for adult education and a great representative of SWGTC,” commented Dale Aldridge, Executive Director of Adult Education.

Every year, each college in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) selects an EAGLE Award winner to represent their college. These delegates are nominated by their instructors based on criteria such as student character, attitude, and community involvement. The student must also demonstrate exceptional perseverance, a positive attitude, superb classroom attendance and excellent leadership skills while earning their GED® credential.

When Graham first came to SWGTC, she didn’t even know she needed a GED® credential. She came to enroll in nursing courses, even started classes and made it through her first semester, when she was informed that her high school diploma was not valid. Graham, like many others, made the mistake of completing her high school diploma online with a school that was not accredited, deeming her diploma invalid. That meant she would need a GED® credential to continue classes and achieve her dream of becoming a nurse.

Mary Lou Vonier, Adult Education Instructor, nominated Graham for the EAGLE award. In her nomination she wrote, “Upon notification that her diploma was invalid, Tawana immediately enrolled in adult education and has been hard-working, responsible, focused, persistent and successful. She has been a role model for other students, and I frequently observe her encouraging and assisting other students. Tawana clearly sees the value of returning to school to get a GED® credential and will represent the adult education program well.“

Graham said that while trying to complete her GED® test there were many times she felt like she couldn’t do it, or that she just wanted to give up; however, in the end, it was the motivation of her teachers, and her dream of becoming a nurse, that kept her going.

At SWGTC’s graduation in June, Graham will walk across the stage to receive both her GED® credential and her Nurse Aide Technical Certificate of Credit. Her next step is to start in SWGTC’s Practical Nursing Program so that she can be on her way to becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). She is currently working full-time for Woodleaf at Home as an in-home caregiver for a couple in Cairo.

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Southwest Georgia Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.