A ceremony will be held Thursday, honoring 16 community members who graduated with their high school credential and are on a path toward jobs or additional education.
The ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in the Racine Building at Gateway Technical College, 1001 S. Main St. The event honors graduates of the 5.09 High School Equivalency Degree (HSED) program, a 20-week course offered at Racine County Workforce Solutions in partnership with YWCA Southeast Wisconsin and Gateway Technical College.
The 5.09 HSED program is a competency based, alternative diploma program. This means participants are not required to complete the five timed computer exams typically required to obtain a GED or HSED. Instead they demonstrate their skills and understanding of the material by completing course work such as projects, quizzes, class discussions and homework.
The highly successful 5.09 HSED Program was first offered in August 2017. Since that time, 49 residents have been awarded diplomas.
In addition to receiving their HSED, students can also earn their National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). The NCRC is an assessment measuring the abilities of a potential employee in three important work-related areas – reading, math, and graphic literacy – and helps identify if an employee has the skills to be successful in a specific job. While the main goal of the 5.09 HSED Program is to provide individuals with their high school credential, another important part of the program is to prepare residents for life beyond their high school credential.
The next class begins Feb. 4 and enrollment is underway. For more information, contact Bethany Tangerstrom at 262.638.6703 or email bethany.tangerstrom@racinecounty.com.