FORSYTH COUNTY — In honor of National Literacy Week, more than 100 adult education staff and volunteers assembled Thursday for the Lanier Technical College Adult Education Program’s annual kickoff event at the Forsyth Conference Center. 

The program featured the theme of a professional airline that helps adult education students take flight through GEDs and ESL studies.

Ray Perren, president of the college, welcomed the “flight crew” and “airline support staff” and reminded those gathered that they can change the lives of their students. 

The evening was filled with training sessions that dealt with language, science, civics instruction, correctional education, technology and the statewide database. 

Attendees also heard from: Tavares Holston, the college’s interim vice president of adult education and vice president of academic affairs; Dinah Wayne, a member of the Technical College System of Georgia’s State Board and Lanier Tech’s board of trustees; Charita Boles of the system’s office of adult education; and Brenda Thomas, the college’s executive director of adult education.

There also was recognition for staff performance throughout the college’s seven-county service area. 

The Forsyth “flight crew” had the largest number of new U.S. citizens with nine. And the campus’ ESL program received third place for “meeting or exceeding enrollment target” for fiscal year 2015, with a 7.14 percent increase. This was its second straight year of growth.

Also, the Forsyth County Detention Center earned a third place with a 13.23 percent in the highest increase of level completions category.