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A Mississippi woman received an honorary GED at 90 years old.
According to WLOX, Ellouise Lewis, 90, received her honorary GED certificate during a special graduation ceremony at Gulfport Care Center last month.
“I never did get a chance to graduate until this day,” Lewis told WLOX.
Lewis said she dropped out of school in the 10th grade and has always wished that she had finished high school. Staff at the Gulfport Care Center set out to make her wish come true.
“When they told me here that I could get my GED, I was happy about it. I’m still happy,” she said, crying. “Excuse me, because this makes me happy to know that I can do this.”
Activity Director Lisa Perdue reached out to Wells of SouthGate, a Christian-based learning center in Gulfport. The center administered a mock test that Lewis passed to earn her honorary GED.
“It’s a blessing to me and to my coworkers to be able to make this happen,” Perdue said.
The honorary certificate isn't an official GED but illustrates Lewis' knowledge and determination to complete SouthGate's course. Lewis is the first-ever recipient of the organization's honorary GED.
“She’s the first,” her son Greg Lewis said. “She’s pivotal. So, hopefully, it will open doors for others to follow in her footsteps.”
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