Kathryn’s story certainly exemplifies all this program is about. Kathryn a second-generation American grew up in an idyllic family until tragedy struck at age 11, when her father, the breadwinner of the family, passed away. “We went from upper middle class to living in poverty almost overnight. My teen years were spent bouncing from home to home, often living in places that weren’t particularly safe or even structurally sound.” It was around that time Kathryn dropped out of high school and found a job to help support her family.
Kathryn’s “ah-ha” moment came when she realized she could no longer keep up with the pace of her job. “I had no insurance, no retirement plan, and was making less than I had when I was 19 and more physically capable. That wasn’t the life that I wanted for myself. I had to make a change.” In December, Kathryn received her GED from Gwinnett Tech. She plans to continue with her studies at the College and pursue a degree in business management with a focus in human resources management.
When asked what EAGLE, means to her, Kathryn said, “I was surprised and pleased to learn I was named the winner. This is a great opportunity for me to represent Gwinnett Tech and bring awareness to adult education. I want to be an advocate for adult education and encourage others. I want others to be inspired to change their path, like I did, and pursue their dreams.”
Stephanie Rooks, Dean of Adult Education, shares, “We are thrilled Kathryn will represent Gwinnett Tech and our community at the statewide 2018 EAGLE Leadership Institute. This is a great opportunity for us to continue to help her grow and learn, while helping to motivate and uplift others.”
The Technical College System of Georgia, through its Office of Adult Education, sponsors the annual Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Leadership Institute. EAGLE is the first statewide program in the nation that recognizes and rewards excellence among students enrolled in adult education programs. This student recognition program is designed to create greater awareness of educational opportunities that are available in local communities across the state and to foster greater involvement in lifelong learning pursuits.
