GREENFIELD — Thirty students who achieved their high school equivalency credentials were honored Thursday, as they were urged to continue their learning journey.

The graduates, who all passed the HiSet (High School Equivalency Test), were recognized in a ceremony hosted by Greenfield Community College, with co-sponsorship from The Literacy Project, Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Young Parents Program and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

The high school equivalency exam is an alternative path for those who left high school without finishing. The tests require students to demonstrate proficiency in math, reading, writing, science and social studies.

Student speaker Tanya Leveille recounted the feelings she had when she finally completed the exam after many tries and thanked the teachers she had worked with for their support.

“When I finally saw that ‘pass’ sign at the end of the final test, I was so shocked I almost started to cry, as I had worked so hard I couldn’t believe I had finally done it,” Leveille said. “I will always appreciate everything [The Literacy Project] has done for me and in closing, always go for your goals and never give up.”

Keynote speaker Clare Higgins, the outgoing executive director of Community Action Pioneer Valley and former Northampton mayor, shared her experience as a young worker without a college degree and how the work “invigorated” her to seek further education.

She added that each year when she attended high school equivalency graduations for young parents, she was a “sobbing mess” because it’s empowering to see people who “didn’t walk the straight path” and, yet, still were determined to graduate.

“You had to figure out how to organize your own time. … You had to set your goal and stick to it,” Higgins said. “That’s not the easiest thing. … Some of you had children, you had a job, you had family obligations, you had things you had to do and you had to structure your life so you could get this GED done. I’m in awe of you because of that.”

As the students move on, Higgins encouraged them to keep their minds open and to keep learning.

“Today you’re going to get a certificate, but you’re never going to stop learning,” Higgins said. “That’s the most important thing that you have to do for the rest of your life, is keep your mind and your heart open to new ideas, to new people, to new ways of doing things.”

Graduates

Nandana Binu, Darron Bourque, Alexander Brunette, Sovandy Chhan, Daniel Crowley, Tanairi Cruz, Jean Dumond, Joseph Egbert-Ayers, Samuel Engleman, Nikki Garofalo, Malakai Gomez, Max Gunn, Bill Hassay, Jeffree Johnson, Diallow Johnson, Tanya Leveille, Emileigh Martin, Karla Martin, Breanna McInerney, Deborah Pabon Melendez, Fathima Siyas Mohammad, Thanh Koha Nguyen, Kayla Platanitis, Jyn Rankin, Griffen Reigle, Joseph Russel, Sydney Santos, Bella Skuse, Logan Sluder and Arpeggio Raphael Toro.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.