August 2011

 

New Brand Guidelines Posted Online

GED Testing Service® has posted the new brand guidelines to the web. Following these guidelines can help more than just the brand—it can help potential test-takers.

The battle against fraudulent credentials and diplomas starts with us. By reinforcing our consistent brand, we protect test-takers from fraud and continue to strengthen our nearly 70-year-old brand. In the brand guidelines, you’ll learn how to trademark different terms in the GED® vocabulary, use the trademarked term GED®, and other attribution guidelines that help out the GED® brand.

Bookmark the site and have easy access anytime you want. Plus, feel free to print out copies to share with others.

 

GED Testing Service Employees Move to New Office Space in D.C.

The GED Testing Service® in Washington, D.C., is moving into new office space this September. The new address—just 0.3 miles down the road—is 1155 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, D.C., 20036. The fourth-floor space will be the new home for GED Testing Service employees working in and traveling to Washington, D.C. Please stay tuned for more information about our new location, and our new office phone number.

 

By The Numbers

Why the GED® test is more important than ever

1.3 million  
 Average number of high school students who drop out every year

23 percent         
 Percentage of U.S. jobs requiring college degree or professional certificate in 1963

59 percent         
 Percentage of U.S. jobs requiring college degree or professional certificate in 2008


As the only nationally recognized high school equivalency program, we need to continue to innovate and enhance our service to provide adult learners the opportunity to become career- and college-ready.

The GED 21st Century Initiative is our plan to provide adult learners with these opportunities through three steps: prepare, perform, progress. Keep these goals in mind as we evolve from offering a test to offering a true second chance to the future generations of test-takers.

 

Another Successful Conference on the Books

The 2011 GED® Administrators’ Conference took place this July over a four-day stretch, and was the largest conference in the event’s recent history. More than 250 attendees came out to Washington D.C. to discuss innovations that will drive the GED® test in the future, and improve the overall testing landscape.

A key component in the conference’s success was the leadership of Randy Trask, president and chief executive officer, and Nicole Chestang, executive vice president. Both were instrumental in delivering presentations, answering your questions, and supporting the conference theme of “Today’s Priorities, Tomorrow’s Success.”

The conference featured plenary sessions on:

Additional training and information sessions were very well attended, and focused on open dialogue. The audience was more diverse than in past conferences, as we opened up the event to state adult education leadership and workforce and labor representatives.

The highlights of the conference occurred on Wednesday, July 27, when Dr. David Stout received the Distinguished Service Award, and Tahisha Porter, the Cornelius P. Turner Award. Later that night, scholarships were awarded to seven remarkable GED® test passers who are pursuing  a better education built upon their GED® test credential. You can read more about all the award winners in our stories below, or view pictures on our Facebook Page.

All in all, the conference was a success and we look forward to setting new records next year.

 

Meet the GED Testing Service

Overwhelmed by the new faces at the 2011 GED® Administrators’ Conference? We’ll help you put a face with a name. Check out our video on YouTube and get to know the people behind the mission at GED Testing Service, your trusted partner in helping more adults become career- and college-ready.

You can also view test-taker profiles of success and our most frequently asked quesions on the GED Testing Service YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/GEDtestingservice.

 

Porter, Stout Take Home Awards for Excellence

Overcoming challenges: The Cornelius P. Turner Award

In front of a hushed crowd of more than two hundred people, Tahisha Porter told the story of a young woman who had the deck stacked against her.

Homeless as a 13-year-old, a single mother at 15, and without a high school diploma, these obstacles weren’t about simply building character—they were about survival. She was telling the story of her very own childhood adversity.

And none of those obstacles proved too large for Porter.

While juggling a multitude of responsibilities she managed to earn her GED® test credential. With the credential, Porter got a job at the New Haven Adult Education Center, in New Haven, Connecticut—the very education center where she studied to earn her GED® test credential. She’s worked there 15 years, now.

But education wasn’t over for Porter, who’s now pursuing her master’s degree.

“[I continue to] work proactively to affect positive change,” Porter said. “I do my best to provide all in my charge with the tools necessary to become successful.”

Porter was awarded the 2011 Cornelius P. Turner Award, named for the founder of the GED® testing program. It is a lifetime achievement award that celebrates the best and brightest graduates who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of education, justice, health/medicine, public service, or social welfare.

 

Dr. David Stout earns the 2011 Distinguished Service Award

South Carolina’s GED Administrator™ and adult education director, Dr. David Stout, was awarded the 2011 Distinguished Service Award from GED Testing Service® on July 27. Under Stout’s leadership the number of GED® test credentials earned by South Carolina test-takers skyrocketed 56 percent from 2004 to 2010.

“David is a true friend and advocate for adult learners in South Carolina. In spite of the many challenges of serving this population effectively, he is a shining example of what hard work, dedication, and passion can accomplish,” said Nicole Chestang, executive vice president of GED Testing Service.

An 18-year veteran as South Carolina’s administrator, Stout acknowledged one of his best moments came in 2008 when the state scored above the national average pass rate for the first time in his tenure. Test-takers in South Carolina passed the exam with a 73.1 percent success rate that year.

The Distinguished Service Award honors an administrator who has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the advancement of his or her jurisdictional GED® testing program through initiatives that identify, develop, and encourage GED® test-takers. The award was established in 1992.

 

Graduates reflect on adversity, their bright futures

The Graduates’ Awards Dinner was an opportunity to pay tribute to hard work and perseverance, as seven were honored for their motivation to pursue more education after passing the GED® test. Five of the six GED Testing Service honorees were able to attend the dinner and speak about their future educational plans made possible by the GED® test credential and the scholarships awarded by GED Testing Service. The American Nurses Credentialing Center also continued its three-year tradition and awarded a scholarship to a graduate pursuing a career in nursing.

Christina Mills of Washington D.C. not only passed the test—she did so with flying colors. Mills earned the distinguished honor of being the highest scorer in the District of Columbia in 2008. She’s excelling in college too, with plans to work in government toward immigration reform.

Christopher Lane Mulligan announced his acceptance into an Ivy League college just two years after earning a GED®test credential. Mulligan earned the District of Columbia’s highest score in 2009 and enrolled immediately as a part-time student at University of Maryland University College. He will transfer to Columbia University this fall. “No matter what, I’ll be benefiting from the doors my GED [test credential] re-opened.”

Anna Parrish attended a performing arts high school that wasn’t meeting her needs. She opted to drop out her junior year, but continued to pursue her dream of being a dancer. Passing the GED® test helped her get accepted at Frederick Community College in Frederick Maryland. Next, she’ll attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy to pursue an education in formal dance.

Matthew J. Peterson is going to be a registered dietician. The Maryland resident always knew his potential—the GED®test credential just helped him leverage it. Peterson is dedicated to his studies at Howard Community College, founded a nutrition and fitness club at the school, and now is going to transfer to University of Maryland to pursue his degree.

Caleb Davis faced a few hardships in his teenage years, and has emerged with a new attitude and purpose in life. Davis earned his GED® test credential while serving a sentence in the Appalachian Detention Center. He will attend the commercial HVAC and electricity program at Wytheville Community College as the next step toward owning his own company someday.

Elaina M. Glynn moved to Virginia with less than a semester left in high school to care for an aging grandparent. With plans to become a physical therapist, Glynn attended a prep class and then passed the GED® exam and earned her credential. She maintains a close relationship with her test prep center and looks forward to continuing her education.

Annette S. Hempel loved working as an emergency medical technician (EMT), and realized she’d like to become a nurse. But without a high school diploma, her goal was impossible to accomplish. Hempel earned a GED® test credential and attended Eastern Shore Community College’s certified nurse’s assistant program. Now, with the scholarship from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) she’s studying to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Old Dominion University.

 

Next Year's Conference

The 2012 GED® Administrators' Conference is July 16-19 in Long Beach, California. We want to see everyone there again, so save the date on your calendars. Sure, it's a full year away, but mark it down and plan on seeing us in sunny California.

Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Ctr.
701 West Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA  90831
Hotel website