Deserved recognition for locals who earned GEDs through program

PAWTUCKET — With smiles that beamed as bright as the gold caps and gowns they wore, graduates of Blackstone Valley Community Action Program’s Education Program were feted on Friday afternoon for obtaining their GEDs.

The 36 graduates represented three years worth of classes – from 2015 through 2017 – and they each had their own stories to tell of how they overcame personal challenges and persevered through plenty of obstacles to reach Friday's celebration.

Adessa Viner, 31, of Woonsocket was celebrating her GED alongside members of her family, particularly her six-year-old daughter Destiny. For Viner, Friday's commencement exercises were a date she'd been looking forward to since she started the program four months ago. But in those four months, her road to success was not one that was smoothly paved.

On Easter Sunday, her Woonsocket home was severely damaged by a fire. She said that was arguably the most difficult challenge to overcome in her path toward her GED, saying the home still is in "pretty bad" condition but is in the process of being repaired.

But for Viner, Friday wasn't about looking back on past difficulties, it was about looking forward to future aspirations.

"Today's a very special day, to be able to get it done," Viner said. "I can show my daughter that there's more to look forward to."

Viner said that she'll next look to attend classes at Community College of Rhode Island and from there, she'll enter a program for speech therapy. While she said she's never targeted a "dream career," she wants to get involved in speech therapy and in her free time, she'll continue to work on starting her own photography business.

"If I can do this, I can do anything," Viner said, before adding that she'd tell others in a similar situation: "Go for it. It's definitely worth it."

Graduates of BVCAP’s many basic education and English as a Second Language programs enter the workforce or continue their education better prepared to be responsible citizens and successful at their endeavors, officials said during Friday morning's celebration at the Woodlawn Community Center on West Avenue.

Amanda Raitano, BVCAP's education coordi- nator, said that Friday's graduation was a special day for the 36 graduates – 19 of whom were present at the community center. Of the graduating students, some are young single parents, some are single parents who are a little older than traditional graduates, and some are brand-new mothers.

"It's wonderful, the students are with their children and their families and they're so proud. Today, I heard one child say, 'My mommy's graduating, my mommy's going to college!'" Raitano said.

"They had great financial struggles. They really had a hard time being successful in public schools, they had anxieties in a traditional classroom," Raitano said of the graduates. "But the classes are smaller in our program and they really got to know each other, they formed relationships, they've helped each other. There's been a really solid, supportive environment. They're all coming from a common place."

Some of the GED recipients will be going on to the work force, others are in the process of finalizing job offers, and some are about ready to enter the next level of their education. But for all, Raitano said, they're beyond thrilled to enter the next phase of their lives, GED in hand.

"It's nice to know we can provide that foundation. Graduations are typically thought of as the end, but ours is just the beginning," Raitano said. "Some say they're doing it for me, some are doing it for a better job, but they all want their children and families to know that they're successful and that they were able to do this."

Those who were recognized on Friday were:

• Class of 2017: Michael Alix, Brandon Barriere, Elena Bautista, Brad Boissoneault, Hallie Castonguay, Sam Bassey Enang, Tanika Flemming, Joaquin Henriquez, Brittany Lopes, Janelly Lopez, Shannon McCarthy, Tyhana Mejia, Moe Neves, Marina Place, Alex Robinson, Adamiris Romero, Jean Sanchez, Joanna Tavares, Adessa Viner, and Kelli Wall.

• Class of 2016: Jessica Brooks, Dynasty Candelario, Justin Fahey, Matthew Hardrow, Shaylynn Pimentel, Rodney St. Onge, Sathya Tek, and Stephanie Villa.

• Class of 2015: Eileen Alegria, Virginia De Carvalho, Gustavo Gomez, Terry Johnson, Taeja Lopes, Marcelo Osorio, Steven Patnaude, and George Sherlock.