Nearly 2,000 Students in Utah and Idaho Have Earned GED Credentials This Year Through Stevens-Henager College's Good Neighbor Initiative

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Between January and October 2012, more than 1,900 students in Utah and Idaho went through the GED exam preparation classes offered by Stevens-Henager College's Good Neighbor Initiative and went on to pass the GED exam. Students who enrolled in the free program have ranged from teenagers who left high school without graduating to senior citizens who finished careers or raised families without receiving a diploma.

"We launched the Good Neighbor Initiative this year to help those within the communities we serve better their circumstances and further their education. It's having an impact and helping a lot of people," said Eric Juhlin, president of Stevens-Henager College. "Our course is free and provides hard-working adults who didn't receive a high school diploma the opportunity to receive the equivalent now."

For many of these individuals, working toward and receiving their GED brings a tremendous amount of personal accomplishment. It also helps students increase their income potential and find better employment opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals who have a GED or high school diploma earn about $9,700 more a year and are less likely to be unemployed than those that do not have a high school diploma.

Stevens-Henager College's GED preparation course not only provides practice tests, teaching resources and one-on-one tutoring for students, but it also pays for each student to take the GED exam, an obstacle that keeps many people from even making the attempt. The standard GED testing fee costs over $100.

Potential students are given a pre-test to identify what areas they need to focus on and then receive further instruction and tutoring within those corresponding subjects. For some students, that could mean a serious study of all the GED test areas, and for others it could mean a refresher course in mathematics or science. Either way, Stevens-Henager College is committed to help each student successfully prepare for the GED exam.

While the GED preparation course is by far the most requested program offered through the Good Neighbor Initiative, it's not the only one. Stevens-Henager College offers a variety of free classes to community members including CPR training, how-to-get-a-job workshops and seminars on financial aid and scholarships.

For more information about Stevens-Henager College and the Good Neighbor Initiative, visit www.goodneighborinitiative.com.

About Stevens-Henager College
Established in 1891, Stevens-Henager College provides career-focused higher education to students in Utah and Idaho. Offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in healthcare, business, graphic arts and computer science, Stevens-Henager is committed to preparing professionals for meaningful careers and an increased sense of satisfaction. Dedicated to advancing higher-education opportunities in its communities, Stevens-Henager is the only college in Utah to offer free GED^® preparation and other courses through its Good Neighbor Initiative.* Stevens-Henager College has 10 campus locations throughout Utah and Idaho, including Salt Lake City/Murray, Ogden/West Haven (main), Provo/Orem, Layton (satellite), Lehi (satellite), Logan, St. George, Boise, Nampa and Idaho Falls.**  For more information, please call 801-312-0079. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

* The Good Neighbor Initiative is not included in the scope of accreditation. GED^® and GED Testing Service^® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education^® and may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the American Council on Education.

**Idaho Falls is a branch campus of CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ.

SOURCE Stevens-Henager College