The Scooter Scott Project GED (General Educational Development) at the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center (BLEC) is actively strong with an excellent track record of success in providing educational opportunities for the hundreds of students who have enrolled in the program.
“Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center is proud to be the site for this life changing program,” said Dr. Cindye Richburg-Cotton, who serves as BLEC executive director. “We are conveniently located with adequate space, and we do our best to ensure that the environment we provide is conducive to learning.”
Launched in 2011 as the Nehemiah Project GED, it came into existence because of the foresight and vision of founders Rev. Kenneth Taylor of Turner Memorial AME Church and Rev. David L. Scooter Scott to primarily assist members of the church to overcome the educational liabilities they had to get a job or further their education. The program was later renamed to honor and memorialize Rev. Scott for his founding role.
Participation outgrew the space for learning and testing at Turner Memorial AME Church, prompting the move to Airport High School. The program was highly successful and continued to grow during the ensuing years, bolstered by the generous contributions from generous donors as well as grants received for the quality of work of the students. This ensured the continuation of the formative principle of a program free of charges of any kind to the students.
In 2014, a significant change to the GED program was made. In that year, it was elevated to computerization but maintained individual instruction. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a break of about a year as schools pivoted to virtual learning, forcing students to work primarily on their own while GED volunteers assisted in helping students take practice tests online.
With the resumption of in-class work, students were finally able to take GED tests at a few available testing sites. As a result, 19 students graduated, including eight students as recent as February 3. Since 2014, more than 700 students have been awarded a GED.
For more information or to register for the free GED Program online, visit https://scooterscott.org/free-ged-program/or text your name and contact information to Mr. Jeff Smith Jones at (803) 622-419 or via email at jeffsmithjones@aol.com.Classes are held every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center located at 1218 Batchelor Street West Columbia, S.C. 29169.
