Hinds offers financial help to adult students with GED

News & Announcements Hinds offers financial help to adult students with GED
11/08/07 - Hinds Community College will offer GED recipients who are first-time college students a free college class beginning in January. The Hinds Community College Board of Trustees Wednesday approved a new tuition award and scholarship for adults who receive a GED instead of a traditional high school diploma.

The new program becomes effective for the spring semester that begins Jan. 14.

"We want to encourage adults who earned their GED to take the next step and enroll in college. The GED scholarship program is an investment in helping individuals and families improve their opportunities for better jobs and better lives," said Clyde Muse, Hinds Community College president.

The GED Tuition Award and Scholarship Programs are for first-time college students who are Mississippi residents and are at least 18 years old.

The Tuition Award allows a new Hinds student with a GED, or General Education Development certificate, to take one three-hour class at any of the six Hinds locations free of charge.

The GED Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition for a half-time student who is taking at least six hours or a half-tuition scholarship for a full-time student if the student has made 577 or higher on the GED test. The scholarship covers tuition only and is renewable for a total of four semesters if the student maintains a 2.5 grade point average.

Cassy Kinnard, 25, of Jackson is the mother of a 9-year-old, 8-year-old and 3-year-old. She recently received her GED certificate through Hinds' Raymond Campus Adult and Continuing Education program.

"I've been wanting to go back to school for a while," said Kinnard, who wants to major in medical billing and coding. "I want to go ahead and further my education. My kids are getting older, and I need to do something better."

Kinnard said she will need financial assistance to help her dreams come true for her and her children. The Tuition Award would be a start.

Allard Barnes, 20, of Terry recently earned his GED at Hinds. He wants to enter Hinds' automotive mechanics program but he's concerned about paying for it.

The new GED Tuition Award "would really help a lot," he said.

There are more than 400,000 Mississippians over the age of 25 without a high school diploma or GED, Muse said. "It's an economic issue. This new effort is a step in the right direction, but we need to do more if we want our state to have an educated, competitive work force," he said.

Last Updated: 11/13/07