OTAN invites nominations of California adult education learners who are successful as a result of the education received at adult education agencies for the California Adult Education Students Succeed program. The program honors outstanding students who are adults with significant life responsibilities, who have made positive contributions to the community, established and met life goals by attending an adult education program, improved the life situations of self and others, and overcome difficult circumstances in order to pursue adult learning experiences. The program recognizes the hard work that outstanding adult education students have completed in the pursuit of their personal, academic, and professional goals and aspirations.
You can read stories and watch videos from previous years by clicking on the Students tab. You can also explore stories from specific adult education agencies and programs by clicking on the Schools and Programs tabs. To learn how to nominate a student for the program and to submit an online nomination form, click on the Nomination tab.
Students Succeed Honoree: Yesenia Rico
Yesenia Rico would always have a grand celebration for her daughter's birthday surrounded with her favorite food and other things her daughter wanted. But the year 2020 was different. She was sitting alone in her San Jose apartment reminiscing about her daughter's special day. Fond memories of her daughter made her realize how much her daughter looked up to her. Her family's financial situation had forced Yesenia to give up school and start working from a young age. She has held different jobs since she started working at age 14. Her work ethic, discipline, and dedication helped her get promotions, but she missed a lot of opportunities and could not live her dream as she was not a high school graduate. As Yesenia says, "The document speaks, and I did not have the document." Completing high school seemed far-fetched and after all these years, something or other was holding her back. During the pandemic, Yesenia realized that she could no longer make excuses for not completing her high school. Her goal was to complete high school before her daughter arrived from Mexico.