Pride and pomp was the theme during the Ulster BOCES High School Equivalency (HSE) graduation on Tuesday, October 24. Sixty-nine HSE adult students from across Ulster County passed their Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™) exam and celebrated with their friends and families. In all, 75 students took the exam.

The Ulster BOCES HSE students enjoyed the accolades for completing their class work and passing the two-day, nine-hour TASC™ exam that replaced the General Educational Development® test in 2014. They also shared stories and some of the challenges they faced along their educational journeys.

Also feted at the event were students who completed the Ulster BOCES English as a Second Language (ESL) program, as well as two students who also successfully completed their United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test, thanks to the citizenship education component that is included in the ESL program.

Hina Salman of Kingston was not only enrolled in the ESL program, but she is also currently enrolled in the Cosmetology program at Ulster BOCES Adult Career Education Center and was overjoyed to have passed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test. "I am interested in Cosmetology, so to do that I had to learn English. I want to thank my teacher Marilyn Cannistra."

Director of Adult Education Mary Jalloh said, "This is the most rewarding part of our work, to see students succeed in their efforts. These are stepping stones to help them accomplish other goals they have in their lives. I am so proud of all of them."