OTAN invites nominations of California adult education learners who are successful as a result of the education received at adult education agencies for the California Adult Education Students Succeed program. The program honors outstanding students who are adults with significant life responsibilities, who have made positive contributions to the community, established and met life goals by attending an adult education program, improved the life situations of self and others, and overcome difficult circumstances in order to pursue adult learning experiences. The program recognizes the hard work that outstanding adult education students have completed in the pursuit of their personal, academic, and professional goals and aspirations.
You can read stories and watch videos from previous years by clicking on the Students tab. You can also explore stories from specific adult education agencies and programs by clicking on the Schools and Programs tabs. To learn how to nominate a student for the program and to submit an online nomination form, click on the Nomination tab.
Students Succeed Honoree: Isaac Reyes Hernandez
Isaac Reyes Hernandez migrated to the United States from Mexico in 2002. He started attending the daytime Mt. Diablo Adult Education (MDAE) English as a Second Language Program to learn to speak English. While he was attending classes during the day, he was also working eight hour shifts at night to pay his bills. Isaac told us, "I knew that speaking in English in this country was the first step for me to succeed and continue with my education." In 2008-2009 when the recession hit, he was laid off by his employer and could only find work on the weekends. That is when he came back to MDAE to earn his high school diploma. Because his budget was tight and he had no family in the area to support him, he would come to school hungry, but he knew it would be worth it and that having a high school diploma would help him find a job, and it did.