78-year-old Great-Grandmother to Receive GED At PCC Ceremony June 7
June 6, 2012
Tucson, AZ – A 78-year-old great-grandmother who left high school in 1953 will be among nearly 300 men and women receiving General Educational Development certificates this week from Pima Community College.
Mary Bowman and her fellow graduates will receive their certificates – commonly known as a GED – at a Celebration of Achievement on Thursday evening at the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. The event begins at 7 p.m.
More than 1,000 family members and friends are expected to attend the event. Mary will be one three student speakers.
Since July of last year, 1,279 students have received GEDs through Pima Community College’s Adult Education program. The College has provided GED instruction and testing to southern Arizonans for more than 40 years.
“Pima Community College’s commitment to quality adult education is unwavering,” said Deborah Gaddy, dean of Adult Education. “We truly believe that learning is a lifelong pursuit and if anyone doubts that, they should meet Mary Bowman.”
Mary, who was born in November 1933 in Detroit, married in 1950 and quit high school in 1953 when she and her husband welcomed their first child. Eight more followed.
When her children were grown, Mary entered the workforce. She sold cosmetics, worked in a hardware store, and managed the office of an RV park. Her extended family has grown to 26 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
“My family was my inspiration” to go back to school, said Mary, adding that after she completed her studies, she sent family members a copy of her report card.
Re-entering the classroom after more than 50 years was a challenge – at first. But Mary eventually hit her stride.
“It was very scary,” she said. “I had a lot of apprehension about the whole new adventure. You don’t know what to expect. But after a few days . . . it was just amazing. All these kids, they treated me just like one of them.”
Mary, whose favorite subject was Math, says the College’s instructors and staff were instrumental in her success. “The teachers we have at Pima are just amazing,” she said. “We are so lucky to have these people.”
Mary also credits the Women’s Literacy Network, a volunteer organization that provides individual tutors for students in GED classes. “I knew a needed one because there was so much I had to learn,” she said.
As for the future, Mary sounded like many new graduates. “I’m looking at my options,” she said.
For the record, Mary is not the oldest recipient of a GED earned through PCCAE – an 80-something adult learner received a certificate a few years ago.
- What: PCC Adult Education GED graduation ceremony
- When: Thursday, June 7, 7 p.m.
- Where: Tucson Convention Center Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
Free GED preparation classes are available through PCCAE. For more information, call 206-6500 or go to www.pima.edu/ged.
PCC recently expanded the number of its GED testing sites.
CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu