Celebrating Our 2026 GED Graduates
Identity has a tradition: a bell is rung every time a GED student passes their test. As it sounds, staff rush into the hallways to cheer and applaud. After a summer filled with the bell's chime, the students had the opportunity to celebrate their hard work and commendable accomplishments in September with a formal graduation ceremony.
On September 12, families, friends, staff and supporters gathered at the Montgomery College Theatre Arts Building to celebrate the graduation of 25 students who earned their GED through Identity's Downcounty Youth Opportunity Center (DYOC) and Upcounty Youth Opportunity Center.
Graduates walked proudly across the stage before beaming loved ones and the Identity team members who supported their educational journeys. The event opened with remarks from Identity's GED instructors, who reflected on the dedication and resilience that brought students to this milestone. They encouraged graduates to view earning their GED not as the end, but as the beginning of new opportunities.
The ceremony also featured inspiring speeches from graduate speakers Angel S. of DYOC and Karen F. of UYOC. Reflecting on the challenges many students faced while pursuing their GED, Angel shared, “Today we all gather here, and this serves as confirmation of what the human spirit is capable of. Through sheer determination, we were able to cross that finish line.”
Johanna Caba, Identity's bilingual GED instructor at the UYOC, praised the graduates' perseverance and growth. “It takes determination and courage to take ownership of your future,” she said. “You transformed struggles into strength and have already taken the most important step toward success.”
