Socorro Independent School District Community Education graduate Adriana Garcia was awarded the 2022 Texas Workforce Commission Scholar of the Year award.
This outstanding individual was one of five recipients of this honor, which highlights an Adult Education and Literacy scholar for their dedication, persistence, and leadership.
Garcia earned her GED and then went on to obtain her dental assistant certification through the community education program in May 2022.
“Thank you to everyone who believed in me,” Adriana Garcia said. “They saw the potential in me and that gave me courage and made me never want to give up.”
TWC award recipients are selected from a pool of nominees submitted by leadership and representatives from AEL funded organizations, such as the SISD Community Education program.
Final selection is based on nomination summaries describing how nominees have improved their lives or the lives of others through their experience with the AEL program they are affiliated with, demonstrate leadership and advocacy for others while enrolled with an AEL program, and share how they maintain their personal life, such as family or career responsibilities all, while enrolled in their AEL program.
Melanie Garcia, an instructor with the SISD Community Education program, nominated Adriana Garcia based on her persistence on earning her GED, her willingness to learn, and for her dedication to obtaining her goals.
“I have never worked with an adult student who has so much grit and humility simultaneously,” Melanie Garcia said. “Adriana is a genuine example of how having a purpose and working hard will get her wherever she has her heart set on.”
In her nomination letter, Melanie Garcia, detailed how Adriana Garcia enthusiastically demonstrated leadership within the class on numerous occasions with respect and compassion, such as helping fellow classmates who needed assistance in scheduling tests, guiding them in finding appropriate GED preparation materials, and even donating her GED prep workbooks soon after she earned her GED for the use of future students.
Melanie Garcia also shared that Adriana Garcia has been an active volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness for several years and she is currently a NAMI connections facilitator.
As part of NAMI, Adriana Garcia is an integral part of a group of speakers that work to spread mental health awareness by sharing their own personal stories to help dissolve the negative stigmas associated with it.
Adriana Garcia was honored with the award in September at a special ceremony in Austin.
“Never ever give up,” Adriana Garcia said. “Even if you feel like it’s too late to study or go to school, it is never too late to be successful in life.”
Published December 9, 2022
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