Pictured: Lynette Begay

GCU’s Ethington Theatre was the site of a graduation ceremony for 18 students from the Phoenix Indian Center’s adult-education program. The evening event on Thursday, May 20, was held on the GCU campus for the first time in the program’s 12-year history.

Formed in 1947, the Phoenix Indian Center is the oldest Native American nonprofit organization in the country. The center offers a General Educational Development (GED) program at no cost to those who register. Graduates this year range in age from 16 to 54.

“I think for anyone who has to go back to school, it’s hard,” said Bridget Blixt, the center’s program coordinator for Native workforce services. “It takes dedication and persistence. But it opens doors personally and professionally.”

Among those graduating was Lynette Begay, 19, the mother of a 7-month-old daughter. Begay is continuing her studies at the Bryman School of Phoenix, with the goal of becoming a medical assistant at Phoenix Baptist Hospital or St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

Olivia Hendricks, a math teacher at the center, said it takes most students about six months to complete their GED through the program.

“We find where they’re at and we help set goals for them,” Hendricks said. “This is the first graduation ceremony we’ve had, and we’re excited about it.”

Some of the graduates are moving quickly to the next level academically.

Isiah Marshall, 19, dropped out of high school for family reasons but finished his GED, attended Phoenix College and expects to begin a five-year master’s degree program in psychology at Arizona State University in the fall.

“He’s an inspiration to a lot of these students,” said Beatrice Lee, an English teacher at the center. “He tells them they need the discipline to be in class.”

Sandra Hicks, GCU’s national tribal liaison manager, worked with the center’s CEO, Patricia Hibbeler, to make Ethington available for the graduation.

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