Harford Community College Holds GED Graduate Recognition Ceremony

Harford Community College held its annual GED Graduate Recognition Ceremony on June 29 in Edgewood Hall. Twenty-four students, ranging in age from 18 to 43, earned a Maryland High School diploma in FY23 through Harford’s program.

Sherry Massoni, Associate Vice President of Workforce and Community Education, opened the ceremony and introduced Dr. Theresa B. Felder, Harford Community College President, who welcomed the GED completers. The keynote speaker was Kellie B. Hardt, Board of Directors, GED Testing Service. Ramera Bolling, Joanna Rapp, and Sekou Sanoh were the graduate speakers at the event. Other speakers from the College included Lorraine C. Peniston, Ph.D.; Hilary L. Doherty, Admissions Specialist; and Matt Baylis, Assistant Director for Trades & Apprenticeships. 

Harford’s Adult Literacy program offers instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED preparation. Adult learners in the English as a Second Language program can transition to GED preparation classes with a goal to earn a high school diploma and enroll in post-secondary education programs.

Students who completed the GED in 2023 at Harford included Brandon Abrams, Brendan Anderson, Elizabeth Arzola-Sanchez, Jenny Beall, Sienna Beniquez, Anna Bennett, Ramera Bolling, Cierra Curran, Tyron Fortune, Cameron Lang, Yasmeen Lewis, Melissa Martin, Jacob Myrick, Yama Niang, Aiyanna Pritt, Joanna Rapp, Sekou Sanoh, Lilly Schisler, Makenna Spencer, Abigail Standish, Sebasten Stuckey, Kaylee Vaughn, Hunter Wallace, and Leigha Weeks.

Dr. Lorraine Peniston, Director of Adult Development & Literacy Programs, oversees Harford’s Adult Literacy Program. The ABE/GED program is supported by federal and state funds granted by the Maryland Department of Labor. In addition to Dr. Peniston, Adult Literacy staff includes Cassandra Burke, Rhonda Davis, Aaron Dunn, Marla Goffin, Beth Johnson, and Jessie Thompson.

Harford’s ABE/GED/ESL faculty is comprised of Mariama Ayouba- Abdourahamane, LaToya Chatmon, Joseph Connolly, Tracy Daniels, Kim Doolittle, Pamela Dorsey, Karen Gabel, Joanne Galantino, Flora Hinton, Sarah Horstkamp, Nataliya Izvyekova, Monica Jakubowski, Marquita Johl, Vicki Jones, Vidya Kausik, Susan M. Kemen, Michael Knoblauch, Ashley Leonard, Denise McNew, Lee Mooney, Jill Noel, Maureen North, Paul North, Kerrin O’Neil, Joseph Ploskonka, Dr. Angela Scott, Anna Sives, Carol Smithson, Ocie Stroud-Melvin, Shawana Thompson, Raquel Warbington, Sara Watson, Jeanne Weaver, Elinor Wine, Gregory Wright, Betty Wright Jones, and Dr. Arthur Wynn. 

The College plans to hold the next GED graduation ceremony in 2024.

To learn more about Harford Community College’s Adult Literacy program, contact literacy@harford.edu or 443.412.2406.