EGCC Aspire program graduates final class

STEUBENVILLE -- Eastern Gateway Community College's Aspire program graduated its final class Friday, marking the program's second wind under the Jefferson County Educational Service Center.

Sixty-two graduates were from the adult education program, which assists students with high school equivalency courses and offers integrated education and training, correctional education, distance learning, test prep, workplace and family literacy and more.

EGCC itself has been plagued by a slew of legal and financial issues and is currently set to dissolve Oct. 31, following a vote from its board of trustees on May 15. The college will host its final commencement ceremony Aug. 10.

Operated under EGCC since 1992, the Aspire program will continue under its new fiscal agent, the JCESC, with classes having already begun July 1. Now named Eastern Ohio Aspire, the program continues to serve adults in Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Carroll, Columbiana and Mahoning counties.

Commencement exercises began with an invocational prayer from Julian Walker, a former EGCC employee and an associate preacher for Restoration Christian Fellowship Church in Warren.

Next to speak was Arthur Daly, interim president of EGCC, who thanked the soon-to-be graduates for their diligence in completing the program and said he looks forward to great things to come.

"It's an honor to be here among individuals who decided to come back and make a change in their lives and make education the cornerstone of where you're headed in life," he said, adding later: "This a testament of the drive and vision that you have for your lives. This is a steppingstone in your educational journey."

Five of the 62 graduates were in attendance, and two of them offered reflections on their time in the program. First to speak was Liteta Erickson, who was introduced by Jeremy Miller, associate vice president at EGCC.

Becoming emotional throughout her speech, Erickson began by quoting the Bible: "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

"I'm rejoicing today because I finally made it to where I have always wondered what it would be like to celebrate this moment -- cap and gown moment," she said.

Erickson noted the struggles she faced, along with the encouragement she received from program staff who believed in her. It was through those who helped her that her success was possible, Erickson said.

The day she took her final exam, she initially felt unsure of her performance but "in my heart, I felt like something good was happening that day, Erickson said. When she read the email declaring her passing, she ran inside, filled with pride, and cried wit her teacher "tears of of joy, tears of happiness, tears of accomplishment."

Also speaking was Justin Stradwick, who recalled dropping out of high school three times. He was struggling with anxiety, depression and standards for himself that he set too high.

Aspire "gave me hope again," Stradwick said, adding that everyone in the program worked as a team to pull him through, with a little humor along the way. Stradwick now plans to enter the police academy.

Walker returned to the podium to offer the commencement address, during which he noted his being a college dropout and taking 10 years to achieve a four-year degree. This reality became a point of reflection for him later, when his children began asking about his school experience.

Quoting scripture, Walker said, "Eye has not seen, neither has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared." That passage, he said, demonstrates how everything that happens to a person is "for a reason and for a purpose to make us who we are and to place us where we are."

"The things that you have encountered, the things that you have encountered, the things that you have come through have given you the tenacity, the fortitude and the general grit in life to say, 'I know that I can 'cause I've already done it.'"

Walker encouraged graduates to take the unique talents God has given each of them and further those talents, exhorting graduates to never quit.

Attendees also heard from Karla Martin, senior vice president at EGCC and now the senior executive director of Eastern Ohio Aspire.

Martin recalled the outstanding growth Aspire has undergone over the years. Grant-funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the program began with $116,000 per year and grew to more than $1.2 million to serve its current six-county area -- where it serves anywhere from 1,000 to 13,000 students a year, according to Miller.

Martin acknowledged the work and personal support that have come from Christina Wanat, former senior vice president at EGCC, and Sandra Lee, career navigator for Aspire. Additionally, Martin acknowledged the JCESC, which she said has been "extremely accommodating" to the program, ensuring the staff remained employed and the program continued without disruption.

Finally, attendees heard from Gary Cates, senior vice chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, who presented diplomas to the graduates.

A frequent guest at Aspire ceremonies, Cates said he was glad to hear about the close relationships between teachers and students, calling it the "glue" of the program. He echoed Walker's comments, advising graduates to continue their education however they desire.

Cates noted that the Aspire program was once known as ABLE, which stood for Adult Basic Literary Education. However, he said, the name was changed to Aspire because "we felt that people should be more than able to do something."

Last, he thanked the graduates for trusting in themselves and trusting in the program to help them achieve their goals, adding, "When I see the embraces, the hugs and the tears, I know that's been done."

The graduating class includes Harrison Andrews, Paige Bailey, Robert Baldwin, Santon Barnes, Mikayla Callahan, Hunter Chambers, Anthony Chan, Shannon Corbett, Raymond Crow Jr., Johnna Della Penna, Liteta Erickson, Joshua Fairchild, Jordan Findley, Wesley Fockler, Gage Gardner, Deonne Gilbert, Austin Gram, Cory Haueter, Robbie Hensley, Stephanie Herstine, Jason Irwin, Gabriel James, Jontay Johnson, Michelle Johnson, Sarah Kiser, Cheyanne Kuprowicz, Jessy Layton, Bralyn Lee, Angel Lewis, Johnna Lucas, Austin Luff, Ashley McIntire, Antwan Miller, Wilford Miller Jr., Stefanie Otagah, Mariana Pacas, Lakeya Perry, Daneja Phillips, Thomas Piatt, Cody Powell, Kenneth Powers, Daryn Price, Justin Ramsey, Ryan Repko, Alexa Rinehart, McKenzie Ripley, Bryce Roscoe, Christopher Rossi, Vincent Sallie, Shane Samaniego, Aaron Shope, Kimberly Singer, Zaine Smitley, Joseph Sparks, Ashton Squadrito, Justin Stradwick, Joie Teagle, Sadie Trosky, Karlee Walker, Richard Watkins, Cheyenne Weaver and Sierra Yakubik.