Eighty-four students completing requirements for their Adult High School and General Education Development diplomas marched in cap and gown at the Richmond Community College Basic Skills Graduation Ceremony held Thursday night at the Cole Auditorium.

Over the past year, the college awarded 292 GED and 13 Adult High School diplomas.

RCC President Dr. Dale McInnis welcomed the audience and thanked them for all the support they have given students so they could attain this goal.

"This is an important event," McInnis said. "Graduates drove from as far away as Arkansas. Each of you has a unique story, but all of you have one thing in common: courage. It takes courage to return to the classroom and an understanding of how powerful an education can be"

McInnis shared stories of some of the graduates. Thirty-eight years ago, one graduate promised her mother she would finish high school. At the beginning of the school year, one graduate promised her eighth grade son she would have more education by the end of the academic year than he did. A third graduate promised himself he would earn his GED as quickly as possible and took exams almost on a daily basis. All kept their promises and are enrolled at RCC for fall semester.

"These students understand the value of education and realize this first step is not the last," he said. "Continuing your education is a pathway to a better way of life. It is never too late for a fresh start."

A number of graduates earned awards and scholarships for high scores on the GED exam. Dakota Braddock of Hamlet was recognized for having the highest GED exam scores in North Carolina for 2009. She earned an award last year for attaining the highest GED score in RCC’s

history.

McInnis presented a cash award from The First Bank to Cynthia Hockman of Laurel Hill for scoring the highest on the GED exam during the 2009-2010 academic year.

He presented the Laurinburg Rotary Club scholarship to Precious Mae Jacobs of Laurinburg who earned the GED Diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

Knights of Columbus representative Robert Salemme presented a cash award to Courtni B. Wright and Matthew A. Radford of Laurinburg for scoring commendation on the GED exam.

Rockingham Rotary Club President David Harling presented a scholarship to Hayley K. Williams of Rockingham who earned the GED Diploma and will be attending RCC this fall.

Interim Vice President for Continuing Education Sherry Byrd presented the Basic Skills Race for Literacy Scholarships to David Lee Wells of Laurinburg and Gena Joelle Conner of Rockingham who earned their GED diplomas and will attend RCC this fall.

Daphne Stancil presented the Emma M. Stancil & Captain Walter R. Stancil, Jr. Memorial Scholarship to Rebecca Anne Miles of Hamlet who completed her GED diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

Byrd presented the Barbara S. Conder Basic Skills scholarship to Charleen Perhealth Standridge of Hamlet who completed her GED diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

Rockingham Civitan Club representative and RCC Trustee J.C. Lamm presented a scholarship to Christopher H. Snow, Sr. of Rockingham who completed his GED with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

Lamm presented the RCC Trustees Basic Skills Scholarship to James R. Hildreth of Ellerbe who completed his GED diploma with commendation and will attend RCC this fall.

The diplomas were presented by Byrd, McInnis, and Lamm. Dr. Michael Perry with the Richmond County School System and Dr. Susan Chase with the Scotland County School System assisted in presenting the Adult High School diplomas. McInnis conferred the degrees.

Two students from Scotland County received Adult High School Diplomas. They are Shankina Shanta Jones and Lizzie J. Haywood from Laurinburg.

Twenty-four students from Scotland County received GED Diplomas. They are Cynthia Hockman, Stevin B. Huttenstine, Hilary Lynn Kelly, Amanda Carol Locklear, Amy Celeste Locklear, and Laura Ann Shomake of Laurel Hill; Sabrina S. L. Adams, Shawn Ramon Campbell, Daphne Caulder, Michael A. Cork, Linda Douglas, Brianna M. Haywood, Jesica S. Oxendine, Matthew A. Radford, Vickie L Ray, Thomas Eric Watts, David Lee Wells, and Courtni B. Wright of Laurinburg; and Ashley Lynn Collins and Chrishan Morrison of Maxton; and Matt Smith and Dylan Tripoli of Wagram.

Students from other areas earning their GED diplomas include Jose I. Guerrero of Raeford, Jessia Renee Taylor of Rowland, Kevin Lee Mack of Wilmington, Marchus Leichliter of Lilesville, Samantha Bowers of Benton, Arizona, Tiffany Latrice Gowins of Hephzibah, Georgia, and Patrick Glenn Strickland and Lianna Williams of McColl, South Carolina.