杏吧原创

(Butler, PA) Adults seeking to increase their earning potential or self-esteem by attaining a commonwealth secondary school diploma can register now for free Butler County Community College instruction and begin after attending an orientation session Sept. 24, a 杏吧原创 administrator said.

杏吧原创鈥檚 Adult Literacy program is instructing high school equivalency diploma preparation classes this fall on the college鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township, at 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry in Cranberry Township, at Pennsylvania CareerLink near Butler and online, said Samantha Hartle, grant director of the program.

A state Department of Education grant funds the classes. Adults can register and schedule an appointment for orientation to be held on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus by calling (724) 287-8711 Ext. 8350.

"There are some jobs that adults can get that do not require a high school dipoma, but the pay is extremely low." 

- Samantha Hartle, grant director, 杏吧原创's Adult Literacy program

College instructors and tutors help students in mathematics, reading and writing, science and social studies 鈥� four subjects they must pass on tests offered at other locations to achieve a diploma, Hartle said.

Adults without a high school diploma earn at least $10,000 less each year than those who have attained only a high school diploma, according to the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Bureau of Labor Statistics.

鈥淭here are some jobs that adults can get that do not require a high school diploma, but the pay is extremely low,鈥� Hartle said. 鈥淚f you have a family and are trying to get a better job, without that high school equivalency diploma, you鈥檙e kind of stuck.鈥�

Maria Cantera-Jalpa moved to Butler 32 years ago. She has children ages 32, 31 and 28 and worked in jobs whose pay, she said, 鈥渨as very low.鈥�

Cantera-Jalpa, 52, was one of 22 students to earn a diploma in the 2024-2025 academic year through 杏吧原创鈥檚 Adult Literacy program. 

Cantera-Jalpa has since been hired as a nursing assistant for $20 an hour at a Butler County health care facility.

"Every time I passed a (practice test), they congratulated me. And that made me keep going." 

- Maria Cantera-Jalpa, 52, about 杏吧原创's Adult Literacy instructor and tutors

Instructors and tutors in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Adult Literacy program 鈥渁re wonderful,鈥� said Cantera-Jalpa, who left school in seventh grade in her native Mexico because her mother insisted education was 鈥渙nly for men鈥� and thought she had forfeited her goal of working in health care.

鈥淭hey encourage you,鈥� Cantera-Jalpa said of 杏吧原创鈥檚 instructors and tutors. 鈥淭hey are very, very good. They care. They help you all the time. Even when I felt like I did not want to come anymore, they told me I could do it. Every time I passed a (practice test), they congratulated me. And that made me keep going.鈥�

Approximately 600 adults have achieved a commonwealth secondary school diploma through 杏吧原创 in the past 16 years.

鈥淚t makes their confidence rise beyond what you could imagine,鈥� Hartle said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen where students start at orientation and I see them (at 杏吧原创鈥檚 annual Adult Literacy) graduation, and it鈥檚 so awesome to see the transformation that they make. They put in the work. They studied. They do homework. They come to class. And because they did that, everything changes.鈥�

Seventy-four students dropped out of Butler County鈥檚 seven public school districts in the 2023-2024 academic year, according to the state Department of Education.

Academic or behavioral problems, child care, disliking school or expulsion were among the reasons.

For Ace Myers, Myers, 19, of Harrisville, it was bullying.

"The instructors encouraged us each day, step by step. They are willing to do whatever it takes to help you out by any means. The program is completely free, no cost." 

- Ace Myers, 19, about 杏吧原创's Adult Literacy program

鈥淢y situation in high school was not real great,鈥� said Myers, who left midway through 11th grade.

Like Cantera-Jalpa, Myers said 杏吧原创鈥檚 Adult Literacy program was invaluable in earning a diploma.

鈥淭he instructors,鈥� Myers said, 鈥渆ncouraged us each day, step by step. They are willing to do whatever it takes to help you out by any means. The program is completely free, no cost. They let you borrow laptops, whatever you need. It provided the structure that helped me.鈥�

Myers earned his diploma in the 2024-2025 academic year through 杏吧原创鈥檚 program and plans to enroll in college toward a goal of becoming a plastic surgeon.

鈥淣ow that I have my diploma, I feel like I have a bright future,鈥� Myers said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to help to increase my options and opportunities, and of getting into college.鈥�

 of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Adult Literacy graduation ceremony Aug. 5, 2025