November 14, 2024
Gainesville, Ga—Lanier Technical College’s Adult Education program, the leading adult education program for High School Equivalency (HSE) graduates in the State of Georgia, continually seeks to provide innovative opportunities to students. The latest initiative that Northeast Georgia Adult Education students can take advantage of is the “Volunteer to Career” training opportunity. This pathway was designed explicitly for advanced-level English as a Second Language (ESL) learners who want to learn more about the local community and career opportunities.
Students who complete the program will receive the Guest Services Gold Tourism Certification through the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute, whose focus is community-identified tasks for volunteers at local organizations and experience serving as volunteers within our community. “This is a win-win opportunity,” said Dean of Lanier Tech’s Adult Education Program, Shannon Cole.
“This program allows our students to engage with our local community, refine their pronunciation and comprehension of the English language, and discover career pathways that they may have otherwise not considered beforehand. This benefits the local community by filling the ever-expanding need for volunteers, extending outreach to our rapidly diversifying community, and allowing organizations to give back to the people of their community,” said Cole.
The “Volunteer to Career” program is piloted at Lanier Technical College’s Hall County campus, and it will expand in the coming weeks to students at the Forsyth County campus and the Jackson County Adult Education Center. By early 2025, the program will be available to students who attend Adult Education classes within any of Lanier Tech’s seven-county service areas. The program has seen great success thus far, with many local businesses and industries inviting Lanier Tech Adult Education students to visit, learn, and train.
The program seeks to expand opportunities in Lanier Tech’s communities. Organizations needing volunteers through this program should contact Shannon Cole at 770-531-3367 or scole@laniertech.edu to learn more. The same contact information can be used to learn more about the High School Equivalency Diploma or English as a Second Language courses that Lanier Tech offers free of charge to those who qualify.
