OTAN invites nominations of California adult education learners who are successful as a result of the education received at WIOA funded 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: Alisa Avdalyan
Alisa's journey in America began in 1992. Her five sisters, parents, and herself moved from Armenia to an entirely new country with little knowledge of the language. They arrived in Los Angeles and at the age of 13 she began attending middle school, a difficult age made worse because of her limited knowledge of English. Alisa's high school journey was cut short; she was only able to attend through 11th grade. Due to her family's traditions, she was forced to drop out of high school and into an arranged marriage with a stranger. She became pregnant at the age of 16 and later had a total of three kids, two girls and a boy. Alisa never legally married her husband, but they were together for 13 years. During these 13 years, she endured countless instances of abuse. She would have left, but she had no contact with her family and nowhere to go. Alisa found her dad's phone number on the internet and reconnected with her family after 13 years. After some time, she finally got up the courage to leave her husband and moved her family to Fresno.