The Lawrence school district's Adult Learning Center awarded General Educational Development diplomas Thursday night at Free State High School. GED recipient Brenda Spotted Tail holds her baby, DaVonte Mater, as her mother, Nancy Spotted Tail, gives her a kiss for her hard work.

When Michael Wright, 44, was younger, he didn’t think an education mattered. He dropped out of high school and easily found a job.

But he learned the hard way he couldn’t advance without a high school diploma or a college degree.

“For a while I didn’t think it mattered,” he said. “I finally got to the point where I wanted to challenge myself.”

He and 43 others, from the ages of 16 to 47, received their General Educational Development diplomas Thursday night at Free State High School’s auditorium after completing courses through the Adult Learning Center.

Wright said earning his GED was a “big confidence booster.” A total of 97 people have qualified for their GED since starting the program a year ago.

Linda McGuire, facilitator for the Adult Learning Center, said to have 44 present for the ceremony was a record.

“This is the best of all worlds,” McGuire said. “You get to see people from start to finish.”

Gary Shepard, 45, said he will attend Johnson County Community College next for an associate degree to become an auto mechanic. Shepard first decided to go to college a few years ago and thought it would be no problem because he already had his GED through the Army.

But when he tried to enroll at JCCC, he learned there was no paperwork proving he had a GED, so he had to start over. The college allowed him one semester before he could return with proof of a diploma.

“I surprised myself,” he said. “Even in college. I can do it.”

The school district’s Adult Learning Center offers classes in basic education, GED preparation and English as a second language. Successful completion of the five-part GED exam guarantees a Kansas state high school diploma from the Kansas Board of Regents.

Graduate Diego Bonsignore spoke to an audience of exuberant family, friends and peers. He said he wants to set an example for his nieces and nephews and other Spanish speakers.

“It’s never too late to learn,” he said. “It doesn’t matter your age, what language you speak – you can learn at any age.”