Nearly 140 graduates will walk across the stage during the largest-ever DMACC High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) Graduation Ceremony at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 10 at the Meadows Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona.
Some of the graduates will be teenagers. Others will be middle-aged or well beyond, and many will fall somewhere in between. But all of the graduates have overcome challenges to complete their high school education — and Cameron Onnen, 21, of Perry is proud to be one of them.
“Earning my (High School Equivalency) diploma through DMACC was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Onnen said. “I was able to prove to myself that I was capable of doing anything I set my mind to, and I feel a huge sense of accomplishment.”
Onnen completed the DMACC HiSET program in 2020 through the DMACC Perry VanKirk Center and is currently working as a health care aid while also working toward her degree in Human Services at DMACC, where she has earned a spot on the President’s List with a 4.0 grade point average.
“I faced quite a few challenges in my teenage years, including family problems and mental health, and I ultimately took a turn down the wrong path,” Onnen said. “I went through a rough few years, but at the end of it, I made a decision to change everything around for myself. I knew getting a High School Equivalency diploma would be a good first step in the right direction and would give me the momentum I needed to continue in that direction.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year marks the first time since December 2019 that the DMACC High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) program has been able to hold an in-person graduation ceremony, and graduates from 2020, 2021 and 2022 will participate.
The DMACC HiSET program offers free classes, coaching, testing and resources to help individual prepare to take the HiSET (High School Equivalency Test), which is an assessment of skills and knowledge comparable to those of a high school graduate. The HiSET test has replaced what was formerly known as the GED in the state of Iowa as the assessment tool used to award a High School Equivalency diploma.
Classes in the DMACC HiSET program are held several times a week over an eight-week period. Students in the program also work individually with a career coach to help them succeed and plan their future.
Currently, about 34,000 central Iowans do not have a high school diploma.
“Our goal is to help individuals of every age and from any background to realize that earning a high equivalency diploma is within their reach, and that they are not alone,” said Eric Sundermeyer, associate director for adult education and literacy at DMACC. “We are so proud and excited to be able to again publicly celebrate the resiliency and determination of all our adult learners along with their support system of family and friends.
“There isn’t always a straight path to earning a diploma,” Sundermeyer said, “and we are here to help people adjust course and find a path that works for them. DMACC’s High School Equivalency program is designed to be accessible, straightforward and as convenient as possible.”
Lisa Schmitz is the DMACC public relations and communications specialist.
This made my heart burst! Way to go, Cameron!
Very, very proud of this young lady. An inspiration to all!