Staff Report //October 14, 2019//
The first class of the Richland Library Career Online High School celebrated its graduation with a ceremony Sunday at the library’s main location on Assembly Street in Columbia.
Five students, ranging in age from 22 to 47, earned their high school diplomas through the program: Teresa Bethea, Deneka Doctor, Kindra Tucker, Andrea Walters and Diamond Wilson.
Each graduate received a career certificate in one of 10 optional fields, including home care professional, office management, and general career preparation, according to a news release from Richland Library.
The Career Online High School was designed to allow participants to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate for free. Richland Library is the only library in the Carolinas to offer the program, according to the release.
The program began in November 2018. Currently, 40 students are enrolled, while 70 interested candidates have completed the prerequisite course. More than 600 people have taken the self-assessment component.