The Education Exchange
Lily Pads, Building C
33 North Road
Peace Dale, RI 02879 401.783.0293
The Education Exchange Graduation Ceremony on June 17, 2009
Published on: May 22, 2009
May 22, 2009 – Wakefield, RI – The Education Exchange, a non-profit provider of affordable, convenient, and accessible adult education and job skills training programs throughout southern Rhode Island, will celebrate the achievements of its graduating class on June 17, 2009 at The Prout School in Wakefield. The Graduation Ceremony, which will begin at 7:00PM, will feature Heidi Collins, Director of Public Education at The Poverty Institute, as the keynote speaker.
For more than 15 years, Ms. Collins has been advocating and educating on behalf of programs that improve the economic well-being of low- and middle-income people, such as leadership development, public benefits and advocacy training. Prior to her position at The Poverty Institute, Ms. Collins was the founding member and community organizer at the Coalition Against Poverty in Southeastern Massachusetts and then Executive Director of RI Parents for Progress. As a former welfare recipient who transitioned off assistance in 1996, Ms. Collins understands how adult education, skills training and post-secondary education are vital to a successful career pathway. Her personal and professional success serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when you combine determination, education, individual responsibility, and community engagement.
At this year’s Graduation Ceremony, the Education Exchange will present scholarships to two deserving students (nominated by the teaching staff and selected by the Board of Directors) who demonstrated excellence in the classroom and in their GED scores. This is the second year that the Education Exchange will award the Thomas H. Brillat Scholarship, named for the former Director of the Education Exchange. Scholarship recipients must be accepted to post-secondary education for the Fall of 2009.
After coming to the Education Exchange determined to make a new educational start, graduates often find themselves looking forward to opportunities long considered beyond their reach. Some past graduates from the Education Exchange program have gone on to pursue higher education at community colleges, technical institutes, and 4-year colleges and universities. Others have gained employment or returned to their employers with the opportunity to pursue promotions and pay increases. For all of the Education Exchange graduates, graduation day marks a pivotal milestone on their journey toward “learning for life”.
For more information about the Education Exchange Graduation Ceremony or to learn more about the adult education and job skills training opportunities available at the Education Exchange, please call 401-783-0293, send email to info@EducationExchangeRI.org, or visit www.EducationExchangeRI.org.
About the Education Exchange For thirty years, the Education Exchange has enriched the lives of southern Rhode Islanders by providing affordable, convenient, and accessible adult education programs. Classes, seminars, and workforce training opportunities available at the Education Exchange help students improve their lives and achieve their professional goals. More information is available online at www.EducationExchangeRI.org or by calling 401-783-0293.
