HEP graduates at the Sept. 21 ceremony. Courtesy photo.

UKIAH – Mendocino College celebrated its sixth High School Equivalency Program (HEP) graduation ceremony at the Redwood Valley Cellars on Sept. 21.

The HEP program aims to serve students who come from a migrant or seasonal farm working background.

Under the direction of Alma Roman-Sheard, HEP recruited over 180 students to the program this year, with 100 successfully participating in the program in 20-2007. Sixty of the participating students graduated with a GED.

HEP is a five-year federal grant with the objectives of recruiting and providing instruction, financial assistance, and academic and career counseling to migrant or seasonal farm working students who were unable to attain a high school diploma.

Mendocino College HEP is in its second grant cycle and was successfully awarded a grant from 2001-06.

For many participants, HEP is a source of motivation and accomplishment. Students who complete the program go on to obtain better paying jobs or continue on to higher education at Mendocino College.

“My experience in the HEP program has been very positive. HEP helped me reach my goal, which was to obtain my GED. I liked participating in the program because I received a lot of support from my teachers and tutors. Through HEP, I found the classes I needed to continue my education. Currently, I am a full-time student at Mendocino College, and in the future I will be a student at Sonoma State,” said Rosalba Peña, a recent HEP graduate and Boonville resident.

Since its inception in 2001, HEP has graduated more than 200 students and placed an average of 67 percent in new professions or academic programs of study.

“I would like to thank the HEP program for giving me the opportunity to obtain my GED. Now I have more opportunities to succeed in this county, to obtain a better paying job and to continue on to college,” said Martín Arrillaga, a recent HEP graduate and Potter Valley resident.

For more information concerning the Mendocino College HEP program contact Minerva Flores at (707) 467-1026 or visit www.mendocino.edu.

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