A GED graduate from Lanier Technical College recently received the Technical College System of Georgia's 2023 Dinah Culbreath Wayne Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education Award and was named the system's adult education student of the year.
Kayla Hill received the award during the annual Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE Institute at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia on March 2.
TCSG State Board Chairman, Trey Sheppard, TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier, and TCSG Assistant Commissioner for Adult Education, Dr. Cayanna Good, presented the awards.
“As the adult education student of the year, Kayla reminds us that it is never too late to turn your life around by getting an education, even after years of tremendous struggle and challenge,” TCSG Commissioner, Greg Dozier said.
The Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE Award recognizes students from throughout the state who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in TCSG's adult education programs.
Hill was selected by a panel of judges from business and education and will receive a full scholarship to the technical college of her choice. Her fees and books will also be paid for through a stipend from the Brenda Wise Scholarship Fund, established in 2014 in memory of Brenda Wise, a lifelong supporter of adult education.
“Kayla overcame enormous obstacles in her life to get where she is today,” Lanier Technical College president, Tim McDonald said. “She dropped out of high school, had her first child at 15 years of age, lost her brother, and suffered from addiction before earning her high school equivalency through Lanier Tech. She is now enrolled in our Welding and Joining program, found her passion, and is on her way to a fulfilling career. It will be exciting to follow Kayla’s journey as Georgia’s 2023 ambassador for Adult Education. Kayla is an inspiration to us all."
Kayla will travel the state over the coming year as an ambassador for adult education, speaking to students, civic groups, legislators and others about literacy and lifelong learning. The 2023 runner-up was Danyale Williams from Atlanta Technical College. 26 adult learners were celebrated at the event.
The award is named after Dinah Culbreath Wayne, a Flowery Branch woman who served on the State Board of Directors for the Technical College System of Georgia for over a decade.
"She was a staunch advocate for literacy education," McDonald said. "When she passed, I think it was just immediate that the state board recognized that they needed to honor Dinah's legacy."
McDonald said Wayne consistently made efforts to spread the word about adult education opportunities within the community.
"About once a month, once every two months, I would get a phone call from her ... it was always this, 'Hello Tim, this is Dinah Wayne. I hope you're doing well. I met someone at,' and you just picked the place. The doctor's office, grocery store ... it didn't matter where. She had met someone who knew someone that didn't have a high school credential, and would give me the contact information and say, 'Could you reach out to this person?' She never lost sight of the impacts that one individual can have on one other individual."
