Forsyth Tech Graduates Largest GED Class in College’s History: Mayor Allen Joines Is Graduation Speaker

Forsyth Tech graduated its largest General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Thurs., Jan. 30, at Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines, an advocate for the development of an educated and skilled local workforce, was the graduation speaker. "Given today's changes in the economic make-up of our economy, it is essential that individuals have at least a GED to be competitive for the new knowledge-based jobs,” the Mayor said. Of the 532 GED students who earned their diplomas between June and December 2013, 103 students passed the test in Spanish, 38 are graduating with honors, and six will receive scholarships of $650 each to transfer into the credit program on the college’s Main Campus. 241 of these GED grads participated in the ceremony, along with 11 Adult High School students who also earned their diploma. “This is nearly twice the size of our average GED graduating class,” says to Michael Harris, dean of Adult Literacy. “Given the radical changes to the GED program that went into effect Jan. 1, we saw an influx of students in 2013 who wanted to take the test before the new standards were adopted. “We worked very hard to help as many students as possible successfully complete their GED in 2013, so they wouldn’t have to start the entire process over in 2014. We’re proud of what these students accomplished.” More than 700 students completed their GED through Forsyth Tech in all of 2013, compared to a total of 400 students in an average year. According to Harris, on Jan. 2, the traditional five paper-based GED tests were replaced by four new tests that are now given only by computer. The new tests are more rigorous than the traditional tests, which were last updated in 2002. In addition, the cost increased from $35 to take all five of the traditional tests to $24 for each of the new tests. Students who did not complete their GED by the end of 2013 will have to start over again under the new system in 2014. About Forsyth Tech Forsyth Technical Community College offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in more than 200 programs of study. Forsyth Tech’s Economic & Workforce Development programs promote personal and professional development with non-credit courses and seminars and provide customized training for business and industry. Forsyth Tech serves more than 35,000 students with approximately 1,500 full and part-time faculty. For more information, visit forsythtech.edu.