Bridgestone establishes scholarship to pay for GED test
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For students studying to take the General Educational Development test (GED) the county has established a scholarship to cover the charge for taking the test.
The scholarship program is the brainchild of the county?s new Adult Education director, Dr. David Walker, County Executive John Pelham and director of industrial development Jeff McCormick.
?It was an idea I had during my campaign,? Pelham said, ?because I saw a need.?
Pelham said McCormick has emphasized the importance of educational programs in the county, especially those which help improve the county?s graduation rate.
?Jeff has seen firsthand how important our graduation rate is when prospects contact him,? Pelham said. ?That?s one of the first pieces of information they will ask for about our community.?
Pelham says it is vital to encourage those without a high school diploma to attend adult education classes and get their GED for a number of reasons.
?Improving the quality of life and self-esteem of individuals is certainly the most important thing,? Pelham said. ?But along with that, through adult education and the GED scholarship program, we?re also making our county more attractive to industry.?
In Warren County, the GED is administered at the Tennessee Technology Center, and though preparation for the test is free, the test itself is not. That?s where the GED scholarship program comes in.
?The test costs $55,? Pelham said, ?and that may not seem like much, but we know of circumstances where people have said, ?I literally have to decide between taking this test and buying groceries for my family this week.? They have actually been prepared to take the test, but didn?t have the money to pay for it.?
Walker says he feels the scholarship fills a need.
?To me it?s a vital program,? Walker said. ?Due to the fact there?s so much unemployment. Again, $55 may not sound like a lot to a lot of people. But if you?re out of work, it can be more than you can afford.?
The way the program currently operates is that when Dr. Walker, who monitors the adult education program, becomes aware of a need, the individual is discreetly contacted and presented with an application for the scholarship.
So far the program has received 11 applications, with seven of those having taken and passed the GED so far. After the individuals receiving the scholarships take the GED, the county is then billed by the Technology Center and the fee is paid out of the scholarship fund.
The scholarship is being supported by local donations, and incurs no cost to the county, according to Pelham, who says industry, business and individuals have all gotten behind the program. Bridgestone donated $5,000 to the fund early on, along with a $1,000 donation from a local couple and $250 from AmSouth Bank through bank manager Michael Griffith.
Once a student receives their GED, there are other local programs to help continue their education, according to Walker.
For more information on the adult education program, and the GED scholarship, contact Dr. Walker at 473-9850 or 473-5860.