The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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October 7, 2008

GED training center to open Oct. 16

Jackie Ayres

The Adult Education Center of Raleigh County will open a GED preparation and testing center at the Cornerstone Educational and Recreational complex in Sophia on Oct.16.

The center is being opened through the partnership of the Adult Education Center, Gulf Preservation Society, town of Sophia, Cornerstone Freewill Baptist Church and Workforce West Virginia.

“The partnership wanted to provide additional educational opportunities to adults in the Sophia area,” said Terry Farley, Adult Basic Education coordinator for the Raleigh County school system.

Several groups worked collectively to create the center, said Deana Keener, entrepreneurship alliance director for Workforce West Virginia.

“All of us together have been working on what Sophia needs. Whether its education for their residents, tourism or business education, this is a multitude, concerted effort to see what Sophia and surrounding smaller areas such as ... Helen needs,” Keener stated.

Providing adults in the community with a greater availability of educational options and preparing the public for the workforce seemed to be the unanimous objective of those who partnered in implementing the center.

“We have been working on this training center for four years. We’re looking forward to promoting training for jobs for economic development in the Winding Gulf area, even extending into Wyoming County,” said Phyllis Rose, spokesperson and coordinator for the Gulf Preservation Society.

The Gulf Preservation Society’s primary goal is to generate tourism in the area, precipitating an increase in jobs. Anything that “will necessitate creating a well-trained workforce to fill jobs is helpful to the community,” Rose said.

The GED preparation class lasts six weeks and will be ongoing throughout the year.

The class will assist the participants in improving their basic skills. Whether the intent is to obtain a GED, to retain or obtain a job, or to assist in work-based knowledge, each class will address the individual goals of the participant.

GED tests provide adults who have not graduated from high school the opportunity to earn high-school level credentials.

According to the state Department of Education Web site, recipients of a GED are accepted by 95 percent of colleges, universities and employers.

There will be an open house and reception at the new center at 6 p.m. Oct. 13.

To register for the new GED Testing Center, contact the Adult Education Center at 304-256-3964.

— E-mail:

jayres@register-herald.com



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