Graduates at South Suburban College receive HSE and brighter future at Adult Education graduation

South Suburban College celebrated its latest class of graduates from its adult education program, honoring the Class of 2026 as they accepted their GEDs. The ceremony took place on June 25 at the Kindig Performing Arts Center on South Suburban College’s main campus.

The college’s adult education program helps adult learners receive their GED or High School Equivalency (HSE) with flexible classes, faculty support, and a program that makes learning affordable.

“It’s important to meet students where they currently are so we can set them on the right path,” said Raylynn Stokes, the Director of Adult Education. “We can make sure they get instructions and information in the classroom that they need to pass the tests and eventually graduate.”

South Suburban College’s adult education program runs for 16 weeks on the college’s main campus and at the Oak Forest Center. Classes are also available online, and the college additionally provides additional accommodations for English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers.

The adult education program helps students who never finished high school get a second chance at education. On top of getting their HSE, students also get prepared for entering the workforce or continuing onto college, something South Suburban College makes simple.

“Not only are we helping to prepare them for the actual GED test, we’re also preparing them for the real world,” Stokes said. “We’re teaching them the value of following classroom instructions, and we’re instilling the value of education within them.”

The faculty who have worked with students over the past semester are incredibly proud to see the progress and success graduates have made.

“I’m so excited to see them graduating today,” Stokes said. “It’s great to see their hard work pay off in such an important way.”

Tanisha Plump is excited about receiving her HSE. Plump now plans to take up cosmetology and real estate.

“South Suburban helped me with a tutoring class and prepared me for all the classes I needed to take,” Plump said. “They set me up with the resources I needed to have to pass all my classes.”

Tony Rivera-Millan, another graduate of the program with plans to land a job in software security, shared a similar sentiment and sense of pride with the accomplishment.

“They gave me all the support they could when I was studying to get my GED,” Rivera-Millan said. “The guidance of the staff was important in that way.”

Registration for South Suburban College’s will open again in early July. Click here to view the application process or to learn more about the program.

Learn more about South Suburban College at ssc.edu.