Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Over 50 students, tutors, teachers, staff, and Board members attended Vita’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) program end-of-year celebration on July 22.  This year’s event, held via Zoom,  celebrated the accomplishments of students in reading, math and High School Equivalency (HSE)  preparation classes – supported by their teachers, and volunteer tutors and classroom aides.  The theme this year of the annual event was “Resilience in the Face of Adversity” in recognition of how students, teachers, tutors, and staff have risen to the challenges of working, sharing, and learning remotely during the COVID-19 crisis.

The program included video presentations, student speeches, and recognition of the accomplishments of students, including earning HSE diplomas, achieving U.S. citizenship, and making educational gains to move forward with their postsecondary and career goals. Tutors and classroom aides were recognized for their many hours of services, which this year included adapting to many new technologies and remote learning curriculum.

Following is a video presentation from the celebration, made by Vita’s teacher and students in a HSE for English Language Learners class.