Bryce Olson Success Story

“I’m interested in the coding and gaming industry,” Bryce Olson stated as he was doing his Career Exploration component in his HiSET high school equivalency classes in Sundance. Janet Cole Lake, his instructor in the College and Career Readiness Center of Eastern Wyoming College, had to admit that she thought that that career was probably a long reach.

While taking his classes, Bryce was also developing video games by himself and with others. He said that he loved the part-time hours of the HiSET-prep classes because it allowed him to also work on game production. “We studied the concepts that are needed for everyday life, things that are useable. In public school I was always prodded to get better grades, which wasn’t important to me. But with the
HiSET program, we shrank it down to the important things that I knew I’d need.”

Olson graduated with the HiSET class of 2024 in Sundance. He was working at the local hardware store and was continuing to code on the side when one of the games that he co-wrote caught the attention of a company who bought the game. Then it caught the attention of Rockstar Games, one of the biggest gaming companies in the world and creator of well-known games like Grand Theft Auto.

Fast forward, Bryce is now on the payroll for Rockstar! “I didn’t tell my family right away that I’d quit at the hardware store, until I could prove that this was a real job!” Bryce is making $18 an hour, and works 38 or more hours a week. Once he completes his probationary period, he expects to receive $25 an hour. One of the projects that Bryce has been working on is Grand Theft Auto VI, which will launch this year. When it does, Bryce will receive a bonus. Bryce has experience in many different aspects of game production–audio, visual, graphics, special effects, etc. “Sometimes I’m the ‘go to’ guy for other employees who need assistance in identifying an issue in their area of specialty.” Bryce is currently working on four to five games, most of which he couldn’t discuss because of confidentiality policies. His name doesn’t appear on any of the games, which is the way he likes it. Otherwise, “I’d be inundated with phone calls.”

Olson had experienced numerous challenges during his past schooling experiences and during his HiSET classes. He didn’t let them stop him, and now, with diploma in hand, he is working his dream job!

There are two ways to earn your High School Equivalency Certificate: By taking the G.E.D. (General Education Development) Test, or by taking the HiSET (High School Equivalency Test). Regardless of the test taken, the end result is the same: students earn a High School Equivalency Certificate. This certificate and a high school diploma are technically the same, which means they can both be used for employment and for entry into post-secondary education/training programs and the military.

At the CCRC, we prepare you for and offer the HiSET.

HiSet Process

• Register with the College and Career Readiness Center in your community, and commit to attending a prescribed number of hours.
• Take an initial assessment of your skills
• Complete the Career Services course
• Establish short and long-term goals using Task and Timeline guidelines.
• Complete at least 30 hours of instruction.
• Take and pass an Official Practice Test
•  Take an official HSE exam.

HiSet Age Waiver Information

• Students must be 18 years of age to take an HSE examination
• Students who are 16 & 17 years old, must complete an age waiver application and have this application approved by the State of Wyoming before they are allowed to take an HSE examination.
• All age waiver candidates must complete a program of study with a Adult Education Program.
  
• Age waiver applications may be obtained from an Adult Education Program.  Page one of the application is a demographics form, which must be completed and signed by the applicant and a parental/guardian.  Page two of the application is a Withdrawal Verification. This must be completed and signed by the local high school or district office. Page three is a Pretest Verification form. This form is retained by the local Adult Learning Center and is completed after the candidate satisfactorily passes an Official Practice Test.

HiSET Test Information

The purpose of the ETS High School Equivalency Test (HiSET™) is to certify a candidate’s attainment of academic knowledge and skills equivalent to those of a high school graduate. HiSET™ scores will identify those candidates who have performed at a level consistent with high school equivalency. Information from the HiSET program also will help identify areas in which candidates are career- and college-ready, as well as areas in which additional preparation may be needed.

Candidates will be tested in five core areas: Language Arts – Reading, Language Arts – Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Descriptions of each of these five tests are contained in this document. Included with the descriptions are sample items that illustrate the types of items that will appear on the test. The  HiSET™ Practice Tests allow the candidates to view sample content and item types and provide them with general information about their level of preparation for taking the operational form.

For more information about the HiSET exam, please click the following: http://hiset.ets.org/states_educators

G.E.D.®

Currently, the G.E.D. test is not offered at EWC. See the G.E.D. testing site for more information http://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/ged-test-on-computer

Hathaway Requirements

Students who earn a High School Equivalency Certificate may also be eligible for a Hathaway Scholarship. Interested students should contact the local College and Career Readiness instructor or the Financial Aid office at the College.

All of our services to our students are free. You don’t pay anything to come to the College and Career Readiness Center, for your materials, or to take the tests we need to give you in class.

When you’re ready to take the HiSET, there are fees involved:

• $10.75 per section (there are 5 sections)
• $15 one-time test fee

Don’t let cost deter you, though. We have programs and scholarships to help with those costs, and if you are under 25, we partner with DWS to help you get paid for your study time and for each test you pass.

That is much more dependent on you than on us. Students who attend class daily and make it a top priority complete the program faster and easier than students who are inconsistent with their attendance.

High School Equivalency Certificate (HSEC) Preparation

If you’re ready to earn your High School Equivalency, this is the place for you. We prepare you for the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), which is similar to the GED, and functions like a high school diploma.

The HiSET has 5 tests:

1. Reading
2. Science
3. Social Studies
4. Math
5. Language/Writing

We will work with you to create a personalized curriculum that prepares you to take and pass each of the five tests.

Transitions to College

It is this course equips students with the skills needed to strengthen reading, writing, mathematics, and computer literacy abilities so that they are prepared to enter post-secondary and/or the workforce.course is designed as a general orientation and transition to college programs whereby participants will begin to explore and understand the college environment, learning to identify and utilize campus and community resources to enhance the academic experience.

English Language Acquisition (ELA) Programs

These courses are designed to help eligible individuals who are English language learners achieve competence in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension of the English language, mathematics, and Civics so that they are prepared to enter post-secondary and/or the workforce in the United States.

Testing Centers in the EWC service area

Emergency Contacts

• Torrington Police: 532-7001
• Sheriff: 532-4026
• Ambulance: 532-7052
• Hospital Emergency Room: 532-4559
• Family Violence/Sexual Assault: 532-5050

Medical/Dental/Vision/Pharmacy

• Banner Medical Clinic: 532-2107
• Community Hospital: 532-4181
• Goshen County Public Health: 532-4069
• Medical Office Building: 532-8758
• Community Drug: 532-2107
• Vandel Drug: 532-2214
• Platte River Family Dentistry: 532-4448
• Griggs Family Dentist: 532-3227
• Hartman Family Dentistry: 534-1988
• Eastern Wyoming Eye Clinic: 532-2060
• Torrington Vision Clinic: 532-4091

Employment

• Wyoming Workforce Services: 532-4171

Family Services

• Child Care Finder: 532-1122
• Department of Family Services: 532-2191
• Wyoming Family Literacy (NOWCAP Even Start): 532-4682
• Family Care Giver Support: 532-2796
• Family to Family: 532-8871
• Goshen County WIC Program: 532-5881
• Goshen County Youth Alternatives: 532-7784

Social Services

• Alanon: 532-2172
• Alcoholics Anonymous: 534-+2172
• Caring and Sharing: 532-2796
• Diversified Services, Inc.: 532-5911
• Goshen County Ministerial Association: 532-2977
• Goshen County Victim’s Assistance: 532-4428
• Land of Goshen Ministries: 532-384
• Overeaters Anonymous: 532-7603
• Salvation Army: 532-7181
• Veterans Administration: 1-800-827-3188
• Wyoming Legal Service: 1-888-634-1566

Schools

Preschools

• 1st Steps Christian Preschool: 532-5801
• Wee Pals Preschool: 532-4377
• Torrington Learning Center: 532-7068

Schools

• Valley Christian School: 532-3133
• Goshen County School District: 532-4046
• St. Joseph’s Children’s Home: 532-4197

Career Pathways

• National College Transition Network
• Integrating Career Awareness into the ABE & ESOL Classroom curriculum guide
• E-Learning PD
• LINCS Resource Collection
• LINCS Learning Portal
• Career Pathways Toolkit, US Department of Labor
• Accelerating Opportunity Virtual Academy
• Adult College Completion Toolkit
• Career Pathways and College Transitions from Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL)
• PA Adult Education Resource for Career Pathways
• Strategic Employer Engagement: Building Dynamic Relationships with Employers in Teen and Young Adult Employment Programs.
• Career Pathways Toolkit from the Community College Bridges to Opportunity Initiative
• Integrating Adult Basic Education into Career Pathways
• Indiana River State College Adult Education Career Pathways Program
• Career Pathways on Wikipedia
• Career Assessments
• Workforce One
• a Career Pathways model and tool kits for contextualized services for instructors
• Wyoming Long-Term Industry Projections, 2012-2022

Academic Papers/Articles

• Postsecondary Readiness: A Paper
• Internet TESOL Journal
• Adult ESL & the Community
• Adult Career Pathways
• Evaluating Deaf Students’ Readiness to Meet the English Language and Literacy Demands of Postsecondary Educational Programs.

Teacher Resources

• First Find
• Read Works
• HiSET
• English for Everyone
• eslflow.com
• Lanternfish
• stickyball.net
• Teachers Pay Teachers
• ReadWorks.org
• Tumble Book Library
• Graphic Organizers
• Teaching documents
• Equation solver
• Flash Cards
• National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
• Geometry Games, activities, worksheets, etc.
• PBS Learning Media for math.
• STEM Projects
• Futures Channel
• Adult Learning Activities for science and technology
• Graph Paper
• ESL Modules
• Teaching Channel
• Interactive Graphic Organizers
• Adult Education Online
• Aztec Learning
• CAELA Adult ESL Resources
• CTB Online Assessment System
• GED® Test Info
• How to Learn
• Interesting Things for ESL Students
• Kahn Academy
• KeyTrain®
• Literacy Pro Systems
• Spin and Spell
• The GED® Test on Computer
• Thinkfinity Resources
• U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services
• Vocabulary.com
• first-english.org
• Tests Of Adult Basic Education (TABE) Progress Checks

Computer Literacy

• North Star Basic Computer Skills Certificate Program
• Computer Literacy Instructional Resources
• Digital Storyteller
• Digital Storytelling

Other

• ACT
• Center for Applied Linguistics
• FAFSA4caster
• FUNDING YOUR EDUCATION
• Hathaway Scholarship Requirements
• National Reporting System
• NCSALL
• Office of Vocational and Adult Education
• Wyoming Adult Education
• Wyoming at Work
• Planet Money-Common Jobs
• Online Learning Circles
• Scholarship Information