Friends of Portland Adult Education

Supporting adult learners to reach their educational and employment goals

Student Stories

Tommy Wyman

by

tommy-wyman

 

Tommy Wyman left Portland High School his senior year when he learned that he’d have to take a summer school class to graduate. He worked at Nissen and then Hostess for 25 years until its closure. Unable to find a good job without a credential, he commuted from Steep Falls to PAE to earn his diploma. Tommy especially struggled with understanding algebra, but he ultimately passed the college placement test. Tommy graduated from SMCC with an associate’s degree in Integrated Manufacturing Technology and has doubled his earnings since he started his education with PAE.

 

Emerging Leader Award

by

 

Hugues Ingabire arrived in Portland at 19 with a strong desire to go to college, but he had fled Burundi without high school credentials. At PAE’s Street Academy for Homeless Youth, Hugues received study materials and encouragement, enabling him to pass the GED exam. Hugues then enrolled in PAE’s College Transitions program and took every relevant class, starting with courses run by Community Financial Literacy, to learn how he could finance his education while seeking asylum. He received a large scholarship at his graduation and the Portland Schools Superintendent urged him  to participate in the MySuccess program at SMCC. He now mentors other MySuccess students and is excelling as a second year student at SMCC, where he received an Emerging Leader award in 2015.

Finding more than employment

by

Stacy worked in retail before realizing she wanted a career change. Her mother encouraged her to apply for a job as a personal support specialist at a nursing home. Stacy found that she loved direct care and, after 2 years, wanted to get her CNA license but struggled to find the finances to pay for the course. Stacy has only positive things to say about PAE’s CNA instructors who were always taking the extra time to make sure each student knew the correct procedures. Stacy loves working at St. Joseph’s, and every day she says to herself, “Today I made a difference in someone’s life.”

Stacy Bernheisel, PAE Student