[VIDEOS] Seeds of Literacy Celebrates GED Class of 2024
The Seeds of Literacy Class of 2024 celebrated with a ceremony at Tri-C Metro’s Campus Center on Saturday, June 29. A new venue for the Seeds graduation, the space afforded the opportunity for even more friends and family to attend.
Thirty of the year’s 120 graduates decorated their caps, put on their robes, and walked across the stage as their loved ones cheered.
THE SPEAKERS
Teralawanda Aaron, President & CEO of The Spot Youth of Empowerment, gave the keynote speech. Seeds holds a special place in her heart…she earned her GED at Seeds nearly 20 years ago. “We did not have this gorgeous ceremony you have then,” she said of the then-fledgling organization. “Welcome to this prestigious club of alumni of Seeds of Literacy!”
The next speaker was unable to attend in person, but gave a video message the grads will never forget.
“Before Eriselda Kola joined the Virtual Classroom, she was at Seeds West. Before Seeds West, she was in Greece. And before Greece, Eriselda was in Albania. That’s how far her journey has taken her,” said Todd Seabrook in his introductory speech of the first graduate speaker of the afternoon. “I think she’d agree, getting to Cleveland from Greece was the easy part,” he joked. Her biggest challenge was language arts, which she took 14 times before passing. She told the audience she never gave up because Seeds never gave up on her.
Cordine Anderson was fed up with other GED programs. But when she saw a grad photo from Seeds online, she felt drawn to the program and wanted to give her education one more chance. “I saw these women in white graduation gowns, and they looked like angels,” she said, adding that she can’t believe she’s wearing the gown now.
When Jeffrey Turner heard about Seeds, he was skeptical. Free, flexible, one-to-one? Sounded too good to be true and even though he was scared, he told classmates, “We cannot resign ourselves to failure – we must strive to want more for ourselves.”
THE AWARDS
In addition to their certificate from Seeds, all grads received special proclamations from Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senator JD Vance (R-OH).
But the grads weren’t the only ones receiving something special.
Spectrum awarded Seeds the Digital Education Grant of $25,000 for their efforts in bridging the digital divide. The check was presented by former Senator and Seeds Board Member Sandra Williams, along with Ohio State Representative Terrence Upchurch and Cleveland Councilwoman Deborah Gray. This is the second year Spectrum has supported the program, bringing their total contribution to Seeds to $65,000.
THE PHOTOS
Event photography was generously provided by Victoria Stanbridge Photography, Tim Arai, and Seeds staffer Jordaine Dinorog. Graduate portraits used in the slideshows were provided by long-time tutor and Board Member Mark Yanochko.
They even managed to catch a future class of 2042 graduate in a group photo.
IN MEMORIAM
Seeds of Literacy awarded certificates posthumously to Theresa Daye and Demetrius Haywood, both students at Seeds West. Site Coordinator Chris Richards spoke for a few moments in their memory.
NAMING THE GRADS
ADDITIONAL THANKS TO:
…Towards Employment, College Now, Education Opportunity Center, Cleveland Clinic, and Tri-C for attending and providing resources to help our graduates take the next step.
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