Graduates of the Adult Education Literacy Program came together to celebrate obtaining their General Educational Development (GED) diploma or completing their English as a Second Language (ESL) classes through the Ulster BOCES Adult Career Education Center at a moving end-of-year completion ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, at the Career Academies at iPark 87 in Kingston. A total of 22 students from across the Hudson Valley were recognized for completing the rigorous program.

Guest speaker and Adult Education alum Antonio Pedrosa congratulated the graduates for coming to Ulster BOCES and laying a foundation for what will be a great story. After completing the Ulster BOCES ESL program in 2017, Pedrosa went on to complete the Electrical Apprentice (2018), GED (2018), Oil Heat Technician (2020), and Air Conditioning (2021) programs. He acknowledged that the graduates were closing one chapter and starting another.

“Do not stop learning, do not stop growing, do not stop believing that better things are possible. Age doesn’t matter. Background doesn’t matter. Accent doesn’t matter. What matters is determination, faith, and your will to keep driving,” Pedrosa said.

The newly minted GED graduates in attendance were: Umar Abrams, Ellenville; Jada Ackert, Highland; Adimilson Amorim, Greene County; Marilyn Argueta de Figueroa, Kingston; Anthony Cardona, Wallkill; Osheana Chaneyfield, Kingston; Savanna Davide-France, Rondout Valley; Andrew Dittus, Kingston; Julian Handschuh, Saugerties; Suzanne Kain, Kingston; Seven King, Ellenville; Rubin Kirschner, Onteora; Cody Libby, Red Hook; Marquis Marshall, Kingston; Cristian Martucci, Kingston; Reyna McClinton, Wallkill; Pauline Ostrander, Kingston; Victor Pacheco, Saugerties; Michelle Pereira, Kingston; Samantha Pitkin, Ellenville; Nolan Van Blarcom, Onteora; and Nicholas Vining, Kingston.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” said Coleen Macaluso, Assistant Director of Adult Career Academies, quoting Nelson Mandela as she closed out the ceremony and wished the graduates well. “Congratulations, Class of 2026! We are very proud of you!”

To learn more about Adult Education programs at Ulster BOCES, call 845-331-5050.