Mehlville School District residents have an extra incentive for passing their General Educational Development, or GED, test thanks to a collaboration between Mehlville and the Office of Continuing Education at St. Louis Community College–Meramec, or STLCC.

Upon successful completion of STLCC’s GED preparation class and GED test, Mehlville residents will receive an honorary degree from the Mehlville School District and will be invited to participate in the district’s annual high school commencement ceremonies, according to a district news release.

“These individuals likely have overcome obstacles in order to earn their GED, and their perseverance deserves to be celebrated,” Mark Catalana, director of Mehlville’s alternative programs, stated in the release. “We want our residents to understand the importance of this accomplishment and the opportunities it will provide them now and in the future.”

The STLCC Adult Education and Literacy Program is funded by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and offers individuals the opportunity to prepare for the GED test at no cost. The program’s Adult Basic Education classes focus on subjects such as mathematics, reading and writing, and are held at Bernard Middle School in the Mehlville School District three nights per week for three hours each.

“Presenting the GED recipients with an honorary degree at our graduation ceremonies is Mehlville’s way of reaching out to our community and highlighting the successes of our residents,” Superintendent Eric Knost stated in the release.

Missouri residents age 18 and older are eligible to take the GED test, along with individuals who are 17 years old and are withdrawn from school. Residents who are 16 years old and have completed 16 credits toward graduation from high school also are eligible to participate in the Adult Basic Education classes and take the GED test.

For more information about the Mehlville School District’s honorary degree program, contact Catalana at mcatalana@mehlville.k12.mo.us or at (314) 467-5261.

To learn more about the STLCC’s Adult Education and Literacy Program, call (314) 984-7777 or email stlccconed@stlcc.edu.