POMEROY — Fourteen students in the Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) program who over the past year have received their General Equivalency Diplomas (GEDs) were awarded plaques at the annual recognition dinner held at Meigs High School Monday.

Included in the group were Deborah Bearhs, Rachael Bearhs, Johnathan Brunton, Fran Causey, James Cochran, Chad Dicken, Nathaniel Dowler, Kayla Farley, Dawn Johnson, Allen Maynard, Miranda McKnight, Steven Myer, David Pierce and Gregory Pullins.

Johnson and Pierce also qualified for the National Adult Education Honor Society on recommendation of their ABLE instructors, Susan King and Charla Oden, who made the presentations. Certificates were also presented to numerous students for the number of hours spent working toward achieving their GEDs.

In her comments to the ABLE students, Oden talked about the importance of education describing it as “more important than ever in today’s economy” and stressing that “education equals opportunity.” She named those students receiving GEDs who will be attending college this fall and reminded all that “learning is a lifelong journey.”

Brent Patterson, director of the Meigs Branch/University of Rio Grande Community College, presented each one of the students earning a GED with a certificate for a three credit hour class at the Branch free of charge.

“We want you to come and find what it is all about,” said Patterson noting the numerous classes offered which includes coal mining now in progress. He also said that CDL (commercial driver’s license) training program will be introduced soon.

John D. Costanzo, superintendent of the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center, extended a welcome. The Middleport-Pomeroy Rotary Club, sponsors of the recognition program, served dinner. John Rice of Rotary presented the plaques to the GED graduates.

Carol Brewer, ABLE coordinator, presided and introduced staff and support personnel including the instructors, Lois Knadler of the Tuppers Plains site, and King and Oden of the Middleport site.

Speaking briefly was Michael Struble who serves on the ESC governing board, and is also a representative for the Secretary of State. He commended the instructors for their dedication, pointing out that “programs are only as good as the people who run them.” He distributed a booklet “Profiles in Ohio.”