December 2014

There have been some changes made to the 2014 GED® Test making it better

than ever! Many new features have been added to make the test user friendly

and convenient. A few exciting changes follow:

More time to complete each of the 4 sections, so students don’t have to

feel rushed.

Reasoning Through Language Arts, 150 minutes

Mathematical Reasoning, 115 minutes

Social Studies, 90 minutes

Science, 90 minutes

Practice tests and preparation material are still FREE through local adult

education programs.

Each GED® test costs $4 for a total of $16. A scholarship is available for those who qualify.

Students are allowed to take one section of the test at a time.

Two free retakes are allowed for each failed section of the test .

Students are allowed to use a handheld calculator instead of an imbedded onscreen calculator.

Same day scoring is available, giving students the capability to learn their scores shortly after testing.

My GED.com provides students and instructors with free

diagnostic prescriptions for all sections of the test.

Handy onscreen features are available, such as highlighting

text and increasing font size.

New accommodations will be available in 2015, which

include a screen reader and braille paper.

GED® honor graduates are those who obtain a score of 170

or higher in each test, which will be noted on the GED®

transcript.

The Truth About the 2014 GED®

Test

Published by UA Cossatot Community College Adult Education Department

The Communicator

Christine Vertiz, Candice Gilbert,

Stephanie Harrison, and Jennifer Black at

the 2014 GED® Examiner’s Conference

on October 29th.

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. Ralph Waldo Emerson

GED® Graduates

Austin Helms

Joshua Arbour

Michael Swain

Hunter Guffy

Brian Holden

Christian Lovell

Lorin Carver

Ashlee Dunn

Ashlee Dunn Michael Swain

Sevier County

Monday - Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Howard County

Monday and Wednesday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

UA Cossatot-Dierks Community Center

Tuesday and Thursday 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Austin Helms

Brian Holden, a September 2014 GED® graduate on the Howard

County Campus, is also an AO student in the welding program in

Nashville. Here, he demonstrates his proficiency in measurement, one

of the goals for AO welding students. Accelerating Opportunities (AO)

is a grant program that helps adults earn a GED® credential at the

same time that they are learning valuable technical skills. Welding and

Cosmetology are the two AO programs offered at UA Cossatot.

We are proud of Brian for his accomplishments.

Rose Johnson and Dalila Hernandez, adult education students from

Howard County Campus, completed a certified nursing assistant

(CNA) course this fall. Both are studying to pass their state exams and

are excited about entering a new field.

The CNA program does not require students to have a GED® creden-

tial or high school diploma to enroll. The next CNA course starts July

2015. Zebbie Minton, Coordinator of Continuing Education, can be

contacted at 870-584-4471 ext. 1178 or zminton@cccua.edu.

Martha Hernandez, 2013 GED® graduate, graduated this semester

from UA Cossatot with her Certificate of Proficiency in Child

Development. Martha is currently employed full-time at Park-Hill

preschool in De Queen as a teachers aide. Child Development is a 120

-contact hour program designed to meet the formal education

requirements established by the Council for Early Childhood

Professional Recognition, leading toward the Child Development

Associate (CDA) credential. Congratulations, Martha!

Don’t forget to register for spring

classes at UA Cossatot.

Registration ends January 13, 2015

Adult Ed Students Benefit from College Programs

Brian Holden

Rose Johnson and Dalila Hernandez

Martha Hernandez

Brandon Lopez, a previous UA Cossatot employee, joined the Adult Education Program in

August. He works Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings until 8 pm. Brandon is a

licensed paraprofessional from the Bronx, New York. He moved to Arkansas in 2010. He

married his wife, Jackie, in 2012. He is an experienced math tutor with a willingness to help

students and assist teachers with their duties. His empathy and approachability make him a

perfect fit for adult education. Welcome to UA Cossatot Adult Education, Brandon!

We are thrilled Thomas Sweeten has rejoined the De Queen Adult Education Department.

Thomas joined the program as the Wednesday and Thursday evening instructor. He previously

worked in adult education at our Lockesburg site under the 21st Century Grant helping

students obtain their GED® credential. He was also an instructor for the Upward Bound

program here at UA Cossatot. Currently, Thomas works at De Queen High School teaching

Biology, but the bulk of his teaching experience has been in math. He is familiar with the new

Common Core requirements implemented in adult education in January 2014. We want to

welcome Thomas back to adult education.

Dianne Rosson began working in adult education in August. She works on Monday and Tuesday

nights as the ABE/GAE Instructor in De Queen. Dianne taught English and science at Horatio

High School for 12 years. She retired from that position to home school her three children.

This job works great for her schedule and doesn’t interfere with the children’s home school

schedule. She has a Master’s Degree in special education, which helps to accommodate students

at all levels in adult education. Dianne brings a warm, friendly personality to the program. She

has a passion for teaching and helping students reach their goal of obtaining a GED® credential.

We want to give a special thanks to Gayla

McWhorter, owner of the Simple Simon’s

Pizza of De Queen, for providing free pizzas to

our adult education students on November

18, 2014. It was a wonderful surprise, and

students enjoyed it very much. Gayla is a

former adult education instructor and a past

employee of UA Cossatot Adult Education.

She wanted to give back by providing a

wonderful lunch to our students.

Brandon Lopez

Thomas Sweeten

Dianne Rosson

New Staff in Adult Education

Simple Simon’s Pizza

Howard County ESL Students Take a Field Trip

Student of the Month

The November “Student of the Month” for the

De Queen Adult Education Center is Balbina Flores.

Balbina is attending English as a Second Language

class and studying for her GED® exam. She attended

57.25 hours for the month of November. Sandybel

Aparicio is the December “Student of the Month”.

She is studying to pass her GED®

exam. She attend-

ed 60.75 hours in December. Both ladies received a

UA Cossatot t-shirt for their dedication.

On Saturday, December 6, 2014, students and instructors attended

Christmas and Candlelight at Old Washington Historic State Park.

The park was decorated with natural greenery and adorned with

handmade decorations. Students toured the historic buildings,

listened to holiday music in area churches, took a surrey ride

around the park, made candles in the candle shop, printed Christ-

mas cards in the print shop, and enjoyed a meal at Williams Tavern

Restaurant. The trip was an educational and cultural experience

and a first for all of the students.

Balbina Flores and Lisa Lutz Sandybel Aparicio and Jennifer Black

Mother and Daughter Encourage Each Other LaQuieta Brooks and her mom, Benita Johnson, decided to return to school together

to earn their high school diplomas. LaQuieta started first and then the two decided that

they should attend together. We can motivate each other to come and get it done,”

said LaQuieta. Shortly afterwards, her mom also registered.

Benita jokingly adds, “I let my daughter stay ahead so she can learn it first and then

teach me. She’s always correcting me on my work. The roles have reversed.”

“Hopefully, we can pass together and then go to RN school together. Nursing is a

high-demand job that would provide lots of opportunity for both of us,” LaQuieta said.

Benita added, “I have several family members who need special care, and a nursing

degree would help me to better care for them and add to what I’ve already learned

from experience.” The two agreed that coming to classes and learning together gives them closeness and time

with each other while achieving a common goal.

Pictured are Venancio Hurtado from Mexico, John Rodriguez from the Dominican Republic, Instructor Linda Young,

Delia Betancourt from Mexico, Instructor Dawn Humphry, Sokkheng Heng, & Sry "Johnny" Ou, both of Cambodia.

Noon ESL class

L-R Hissel Hernandez, Delia Betancourt, Aide Avalos, Noe León , Estela

Flores, and Ruth Cano

Evening ESL class

Front row L-R: Dinna Faulkner; Dawn Humphry, Instructor; Gabi Marcum; Sokkheng Heng; and Linda

Young, Instructor Back Row L-R: Venancio Hurtado, Modesto Medina, John Rodriguez, Tacho Rodriguez,

UAC Adult

Education

Mission:

To equip our

students with

the necessary

skills to

improve the

quality of their

lives.

Howard County Adult Education Parties

The Howard County Adult Education ESL classes held end-of-semester celebrations on

Thursday, December 11, 2014. Both classes enjoyed a potluck meal and watched

The Grinch That Stole Christmas.

Student Recognition Parties

UA Cossatot is in compliance with EEO/AA/ADA in student and employment programs and

activities. Call 800-584-4471 or AR Relay at 800-285-1121 @ 711.

Paid for with funds from the department of career education, adult education division.

“Like” us !

UA Cossatot Adult Education

P.O. Box 960

183 College Dr.

De Queen, AR 71832