WACO, Ga. — At 91 years old, Helen Woodyard became the oldest person in Georgia over the past decade to earn a GED credential when she crossed the stage during a commencement ceremony on July 29 in Waco, Georgia.
Woodyard was among 91 students who completed their high school equivalency diplomas or English as a Second Language programs through West Georgia Technical College.
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Woodyard began attending classes on her 88th birthday after watching her four children earn their degrees.
She explained that after missing out on her diploma earlier in life, she was determined to complete her education alongside her family’s achievements.
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“I never finished so I always regretted not getting my diploma,” Woodyard said. “My four children finished, and I always wanted to do what they did. I kept going because I don’t quit anything that I start. The Lord started a work in me, and I was willing to spend all the time I had left before I died to finish.”
She received a standing ovation from the audience as she crossed the stage, where West Georgia Technical College President Dr. Julie Post read a framed congratulatory letter from the mayor of LaGrange before presenting the diploma.
The college’s Adult Education program provides free instruction aimed at helping adults obtain high school equivalency credentials, build English language proficiency and prepare for higher education or employment.
Rebecca Wheeler, dean of Adult Education at the college, commended the graduating class for their perseverance throughout their studies.
“Graduates, you have faced many challenges,” she said. “You worked hard to overcome them and now you’ve achieved something absolutely amazing.”
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