Her 15-year-old son had something to tell her.

“He told me he wanted to withdraw from high school and join the military,” said Stephanie Womacks, the mother of Isaiah Wilkins, who recently graduated from West Georgia Technical College’s GED preparation program. “That’s a big deal for a 15-year-old to tell his mother. At first, I was worried, like any mother would be, but I told them if he was 100 percent committed to doing this, I would support him.”

Not even 100 days after starting WGTC’s GED test prep class, Wilkins had received his GED. Now, he’s a member of the National Guard and is studying at Georgia Military College, having transferred more than 20 credit hours he earned while a student at WGTC. Wilkins, now 17 years old, has only two more quarters at GMC until he earns his associate degree.

After being placed in an alternative school by his school system, Wilkins, of Temple, sought a new path and a fresh start. Upon completing his GED prep classes through West Georgia Technical College, he was able to take advantage of a scholarship program, funded in large part by a donation from Southwire Company that paid for his GED test.

Karen Kirchler, Vice President of Adult Education at WGTC, said those kinds of stories are abundant in the GED testing program.

Many students, like Wilkins, take advantage of the testing scholarship, which is offered to qualifying students who are residents of the college’s seven-county service area and who pass a GED practice test, which Kirchler said is a good indication of whether a student will earn his or her GED.

While the GED classes at WGTC are free, the GED test comes at a financial cost. The scholarship pays for the four parts of the GED test. At a cost of $40 for each part, the $160 total price tag is a big barrier for some students. Kirchler said that money comes from private donations, with the bulk of the donation money coming from Southwire.

“Most of the students who take our free classes are in need of some help when it comes to paying the $160 for the GED test,” Kirchler said. “We surveyed our population across the seven counties, and the No. 1 obstacle preventing people from taking the GED test is a lack of money.”

Another successful graduate of WGTC’s GED program is Alexandra Crocker, 20, of Grantville. Crocker started the GED prep course in late 2014, earning her GED in early 2016.

“I was in public school and moved to home-schooling before deciding to earn my GED because of some issues I had with home-schooling,” Crocker said. “It took me more than a year because I was employed and trying to stay on top of both my job and my school work, but I pushed myself the last few months and was able to accomplish my goal.”

Crocker is now studying business management at WGTC and works full-time for Edible Arrangements in Newnan.

“This is a big deal for me,” Crocker said. “I never expected to go to college. I never thought I’d have the opportunity. The scholarship I was able to get for my GED test was a huge help because I’m putting myself through school with no help, so every dollar that I can save means a lot.”

Crocker said it was more than just about the money, though.
“Earning the scholarship showed me that hard work and having the knowledge paid off in the long run,” Crocker said. “That pushed me, not only to earn my GED, but toward going to college, and I’ll always be thankful for that boost of self-esteem the scholarship gave me to say, ‘I can do this.’ ”

Kirchler said donations to the GED scholarships have a tremendous effect on student success.

“The positive outcomes are almost too numerous to count, from students gaining a higher wage to students becoming less likely to rely on public assistance,” Kirchler said. “If you look at the statistics on wage gain from earning a GED, there can be up to $250,000 difference in earnings between having a high-school diploma and having nothing over your working life.”

WGTC offers adult education classes with flexible schedules at twenty sites throughout the area, including all five of the college’s main campuses. GED testing is also available at four central locations.

Kirchler said without Southwire’s generous donations over the past several years to the WGTC GED program, the program would likely not be recognized as one of the top GED-earning programs in the state.

“We’re grateful for Southwire’s generosity and willingness to provide support where people don’t typically see the need,” Kirchler said. “We’re one of the most successful programs in the state, and that’s in large part thanks to the scholarships we’re able to provide because of Southwire and other generous donors.”