Our Stories
![Kandi Clay]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1780490477/geoacademiesorg/hgxejxu2bywido40yjmz/Screenshot2026-06-03084059.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1780490477/geoacademiesorg/hgxejxu2bywido40yjmz/Screenshot2026-06-03084059.png","width":405}])
Kandi Clay spoke to her class at graduation. She earned a pharmacy tech certificate to launch a new career.
“We just don’t celebrate where we’ve been. We celebrate where we’re going,” she said as her family cheered.
![Janet Plant graduating]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1780490026/geoacademiesorg/wezwwf8gzkr4my50chmb/Janetplant_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1780490026/geoacademiesorg/wezwwf8gzkr4my50chmb/Janetplant_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1780490026/geoacademiesorg/wezwwf8gzkr4my50chmb/Janetplant_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1780490026/geoacademiesorg/wezwwf8gzkr4my50chmb/Janetplant_1.jpg","width":1200}])
Janet Plant, 68, graduated with her high school diploma this May. She dropped out her junior year at Chicago’s Marshall High, pregnant with her first daughter, in 1975. She raised five children on her own, moving from job to job with no time to go back to school.
![Lewquon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1692736398/geoacademiesorg/jag57faqvflhpceqwjbw/Lewquon.webp","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1692736398/geoacademiesorg/jag57faqvflhpceqwjbw/Lewquon.webp","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1692736398/geoacademiesorg/jag57faqvflhpceqwjbw/Lewquon.webp","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1692736398/geoacademiesorg/jag57faqvflhpceqwjbw/Lewquon.webp","width":1070}])
2023 GMC graduate, Lewquon Harris received his certificate in MIG and Stick Welding. He recently started his new Welding job at Industrial Steel Construction in Gary.
![Khitanna Stewart]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1685119663/geoacademiesorg/mbke897i6k1qhtuiyvzr/khitannasteward.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1685119663/geoacademiesorg/mbke897i6k1qhtuiyvzr/khitannasteward.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1685119663/geoacademiesorg/mbke897i6k1qhtuiyvzr/khitannasteward.png","width":665}])
Back in 2018, Khitanna Steward graduated with her technical certificate in general studies.
![aliyah perez]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1685118010/geoacademiesorg/zffwftvufgcsznopywhw/aliyahperez.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1685118010/geoacademiesorg/zffwftvufgcsznopywhw/aliyahperez.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1685118010/geoacademiesorg/zffwftvufgcsznopywhw/aliyahperez.png","width":665}])
Aliyah Perez is graduating on May 31st as a licensed CNA.
![Fredriona Ward Redbird Academic Scholarship]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1685119808/geoacademiesorg/lf6tajhnsil4xheexkhe/fredrionaward_resized.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1685119808/geoacademiesorg/lf6tajhnsil4xheexkhe/fredrionaward_resized.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1685119808/geoacademiesorg/lf6tajhnsil4xheexkhe/fredrionaward_resized.png","width":665}])
We are so proud to announce that Fredriona has been accepted to Illinois State University.