Beaufort County Community College celebrated the graduation of 16 students who earned their GED or high school equivalency (HSE) diplomas on June 25. In total, the program saw 18 students earn their high school equivalency this year, including two students honored in a separate ceremony at Hyde Correctional Institute.
Meet the Graduates
K’Shaun Blount, Taylor Bright, Ashley Gonzalez De Los Santos, Yuridia Eldridge, Marco Gonzalez Castro, Yolanda Gonzalez Elizalde, Angel Horne, Christianna Jennette, Awaad Nasser, Joshua Poss, Rhiannon Privett, Alexander Reed, Beth Silverthorne, Georgina Trejo Ramos, Matthew Tyson, and Jamayca Whitaker received their diplomas at the ceremony.
Students in the high school equivalency program work at their own pace with guidance from an instructor. The program gives adults who did not complete high school traditionally a second chance to earn their diploma.
Gregorio Bonilla and Paydon Oliver completed their HiSET exams and were honored at a separate graduation ceremony at Hyde Correctional Institution.
National Adult Education Honor Society Inductees
The celebration also recognized 12 students inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society: Kara Allen, Patty Davis, Kimberly Hawkins, Alexander Reed, Khiah Roulhac, Betty Shepard, Beth Silverthorne, Matthew Tyson, Silvia Bowen, Maria Guadalupe Cabello, Lobsang Torrentes Dinarte, and Georgina Trejo Ramos.
Scholarships and Awards
Graduates Alexander Reed, Matthew Tyson, Yuridia Eldridge, Awaad Nasser, and Beth Silverthorne each received $500 scholarships from the BCCC Foundation to continue their education through the Division of Continuing Education or toward an associate degree program.
Instructor Kristin Vansant earned the 2026 Eve Ide Instructor of the Year Award.
Three students, Yuridia Eldridge, Yolanda Gonzalez Elizalde, and Georgina Trejo Ramos, completed the program through the college’s new bilingual GED course this year. Beth Silverthorne completed her GED through the Washington County Center.
A Keynote Worth Remembering
Keynote speaker and graduate Matthew Tyson shared his story of overcoming personal setbacks, including dropping out of high school at 18, to return to the classroom and earn his diploma. He credited his faith and the support of BCCC’s adult education staff for helping him stay the course.
“This is your moment,” Tyson told his fellow graduates. “No matter how long it took you, no matter how old you are, this is your moment.”
Class Schedule and Locations
Students in an HSE class work at different paces to prepare for testing in different academic areas, and they can earn digital literacy certificates along the way. If a student tests out of an area, they can move on to the next.
BCCC offers free high school equivalency classes at several locations and times:
- Main campus in Washington: mornings Monday through Thursday and evenings Tuesday and Thursday
- Washington County Center: mornings Monday and Wednesday
- Hyde Davis Center: mornings Tuesday and Thursday
Morning hours at the main campus have expanded to 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to help students earn their GED faster.
The college also offers free English language acquisition (ELA) classes for new English speakers Monday through Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., along with bilingual GED classes.
For information about English language acquisition or high school equivalency, call 252-940-6325 or click the button below.