Moraine Park Technical College held its annual General Education Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) graduation ceremony on May 23– celebrating an astounding 286 GED/HSED graduates for the 2023-24 school year.
This year’s student speaker is Jessica Wichowski.
Wichowski, a West Bend student, came to Moraine Park to earn her GED after years of navigating being a single parent and many life traumas.
“I am so excited to be here at this exact moment. Right where I am supposed to be. I never thought I would see this day. It seemed like a world away from my reach, and here I am,” Wichowski said. “I stand before you, happily a single mom, with two gorgeous and happy daughters. I am enrolled in college with plans to earn my Bachelor of Science degree– I want to be part of the fleet that helps put the medical world back together. My goal is to take all my experiences, all the pain, and turn them into peace and happiness–helping others to heal and grow to find their purpose. I want to give back immediately what I have been given.”
Wichowski is enrolled at a 4-year college where she will pursue her bachelor’s degree.
The GED/HSED students had to pass all five subject portions of the nationally recognized GED tests: Reasoning through Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Mathematical Reasoning and Civics. GED students must also complete Career Awareness training. Students obtaining an HSED must complete both Employability Skills and Health Literacy training.
“Congratulations our 2023-24 GED/HSED graduates,” Pete Snyder, Moraine Park’s associate dean of adult education, said. “We had an astounding number of graduates who remained committed to coming to school while they worked full-time jobs, cared for children, supported their parents and simply navigated the complexities of life. These accomplishments are special, they earned this, and we look forward to supporting them in whatever comes next.”
