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Rio Salado’s Adult ACE Program Celebrates Students’ Accomplishments
Rio Salado celebrated its 2022 Adult ACE program completers recently, marking the end of one journey and the start of another, be it further education or career for many of the students.
“Adult ACE helped me earn my GED, take college courses, and gave me the confidence to earn a degree,” said student Amanda Calpito. “My Adult ACE journey is coming to an end, but my college endeavor with Rio Salado is just beginning.”
“I enrolled at Rio Salado just to obtain my GED to better my resume,” said student Lorin Nuvayestewa. “After receiving my GED and completing Adult ACE, I realized that my potential far exceeds just getting a regular job. Instead, I can have a career I can enjoy and be proud of.”
Adult ACE is a two-year scholarship program supporting adult students who demonstrate a financial need. Students who complete the program may not only finish their GED, but finish all of their general education courses as a cohort in the online or hybrid format.
Rio Salado College President Kate Smith joined in the celebration held at Rio Salado Conference Center May 19. She celebrated all the students’ accomplishments, noting four students who also completed college credentials while in the program: Shey Romero and Tina Castaneda, who finished Rio Salado’s Certificate of Language and Literary Culture of the USA; Retasha Davis, who finished her medical assisting credentials from Central Arizona College and Judy Srowjy, who finished her healthcare administration certificate from Gateway Community College.
“I wanted to give up so many times,” Romero told her classmates. “But I’d look over and see my son lying in bed and I’d remember my family and my reason that brought me to Rio to begin with and I’d start studying. … One of the most important things I learned from Rio is to believe in myself.”
The event included messages from faculty, including Professor Craig Foster, who taught English courses for the students. He has been part of the Adult ACE program for the past four years. He noted some of the students' experiences the past few months, including those who were ill, homeless, made cross country moves, worked full time and raised families, and more.
“You did what it took to get you to this moment,” he said. “And because of your dedication and determination your door to opportunity is opened wider.”
The Adult ACE program is part of Rio Salado College’s award-winning Adult Education Department. In 2019 Adult ACE received the First-Generation Advocate Award at the First-Generation Southwest Symposium. In 2018 Adult ACE was nominated for Examples of Excelencia! for its service to Latino students in higher education.
Interested in the Adult ACE program and how it can help you reach your educational goals? Visit: Rio Salado College Adult ACE to learn more.
Looking to get your GED®/High School Equivalency Diploma? Visit: Rio Salado College Adult Education to learn more about the GED® Test preparation and Career Training programs available.
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