For 52 years, Omega, an independent educational program, has helped students of all ages secure GEDs or HSEDs, replacement diplomas for those who for some reason never finished high school.
For many of this year’s graduates like Payton, a GED is a gateway to a new life, said Omega School Executive Director Oscar Mireles.
“Omega is giving people a second chance,” Mireles told the Wisconsin State Journal last year. “When you’re 16 or 17, sometimes you make decisions that you don’t think are going to impact your life as much as it does. Having a high school credential really does make a difference.”