NORWICH – The last few weeks in June that are usually reserved for traditional high school and collage graduations will play host to a more alternative, albeit equally important recognition of scholastic achievement this year.

Graduates of the CDO Workforce youth GED program will attend a recognition ceremony in their honor this upcoming Thursday, June 19 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus Community Room, and organizer Heather Schaap is welcoming the community to come and join in on a celebration of successes of the 12 students who have worked hard to obtain their high school equivalency, despite the odds.

In addition to the nine students who earned GEDs, three students will be acknowledged for the completion of their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate which will enable them to immediately enter the workforce, which is a common goal amongst students and staff at CDO Workforce.

“These youths have put forth a tremendous amount of work to get to get to this point and deserve support and validation from our community for their efforts,” said Schaap who acts as CDO Workforce Center Employment and Training Counselor and liaison to the youth training program.

Youths who completed the training program vary from age 16 to 21 and come from diverse backgrounds, most have battled with emotional self-worth struggles in the recent past making the feat that much more rewarding.