New Brunswick Adult Learning Center Graduates 162

Board of Education president Edward Spencer told a packed auditorium at New Brunswick High School Thursday night that the great philosopher Socrates once said something to the effect of "Send children to work and adults to school."

The meaning of that statement, Spencer said, was that the true value of an education is often realized once a person ventures out into the real world and sees the difference that education can make.

Those words rang especially true on Thursday night during the 32nd Annual graduation ceremony for the New Brunswick Adult Learning Center.

162 students graduated from programs at the Center, and 106 walked in the ceremony, said principal Scott Bollwage.

Bollwage, who is retiring this month after seeing at least 12 graduations in his career, said the graduating class is the largest in the school's history.

The Adult Learning Center is affiliated with the city public school system, and gave out diplomas in four programs: GED, GED preparation in Spanish, New Jersey Youth Corps, and Creating Alternative Routes to Educational Success, or C.A.R.E.S.

Located at 268 Baldwin St., the school offers free literacy, diploma, ESL and citizenship classes, as well as classes geared specifically for non-native English-speaking parents with children in the school district, family programs, and workplace and job search training programs.

It enrolls over 4,000 students annually in 26 programs, Mayor James Cahill said.

"Returning to the classroom...may not have been an easy decision, but it was the right decision," Cahill said.

Four student speakers, chosen by their teachers and their peers, gave speeches to shed light on their unique journeys, each started by that decision.

"In order to be successful and get my diploma, I had to identify what my challenges would be and learn how to fight through them," said Quaneeka Gregory, who graduated through the New Jersey Youth Corps program. "My challenge was keeping myself motivated. Motivation, to me, is the desire and will to get things done. My motivation is my daughter, TeMauri."

Sandy Castillo, who graduates through the C.A.R.E.S. program, said she struggled in school, and didn't take it seriously.

With the support of her family and the Center staff, she completed her education, and is ready for the next step, she said.

"Today I shout out "I did it!" with a smile on my face because not only am I a step closer to my dream of studying criminal justice at Raritan Valley Community College, but I am a step closer to enjoying life," she said.

For more information on the Adult Learning Center, click here.

Do you have photos of an Adult Learning Center graduate that you'd like to share with the community? Email Jennifer.Bradshaw@Patch.com to have them posted in the gallery above.

There was plenty of cheering for the graduates at Thursday's ceremony. Did you see on whether or not loud cheering should be allowed at graduations? Tell us what you think!