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: Helen (Hoa) Hoang
Helen (Hoa) Hoang came to the U.S. from Vietnam after being sponsored by her parents. She began her English studies at Simi Institute (formerly the Simi Valley Adult School) in 2010. Helen was always very keen to study and apply herself to the best of her ability. She learned quickly but struggled to be understood by her classmates and by English speakers in the community and her place of work. This caused both anguish and determination. As a child, she had found out at the age of ten that she was completely deaf in one ear. Learning to enunciate in English was a tremendous challenge, but Helen simply never quit. When she attended ESL classes in the evenings, she'd often not arrive until well after 7:00 pm and a long workday, but she always had a smile and positive energy that encouraged her fellow students.