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PCC Celebration for High School Equivalency Graduates, June 5, 2025

Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College will celebrate this year's High School Equivalency (HSE) graduates on Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center Leo Rich Theater. The one-hour ceremony will be live-streamed via the PCCTV STREAM on YouTube for family, friends, fellow students, and community members to watch live if they are unable to attend. Join us to honor those who earned their Arizona High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma either by passing the GED® test or through one of the other AZ-approved HSE pathways.

  • What: High School Equivalency Graduation
  • When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 5, 2025
  • Where: Tucson Convention Center Leo Rich Theater for graduates, guests and media. The event will also be live streamed on PCCTV YouTube.
  • Details: HSE graduates will be available for interviews with the media

This year, four HSE graduates will share how returning to education changed their lives. Each story reflects resilience, growth and a renewed sense of purpose.

Student Speaker Brayan Munoz Leal’s journey before returning to Adult Education was full of “twists and struggles.” He lacked stability in his youth, and couldn’t see a future for himself. But he held onto his dream to become someone who could not only help himself, but help others. The decision to return to school wasn’t easy. He worked nights, and studied during the day. He took classes to help him prepare for the GED test, and participated in the Ambassador Leadership class, where he learned to find and use his voice to lead and inspire others. With support and motivation from instructors and peers, he was able to persist in his classes, pass the GED exam and earn his HSE diploma. Today, Brayan is living his dream of helping others as a Behavioral Health Specialist, with plans to pursue nursing at Pima Community College. Brayan’s message to others: “Keep going, especially when it’s challenging - every step brings you closer to something better.”

About Adult Education at Pima

For 55 years, Pima’s Adult Basic Education for College and Career has played a critical role in promoting adult education in the community. Each year, it helps thousands of adult students who need to strengthen their basic literacy and math skills, improve their English, study for a High School Equivalency diploma, and prepare for college and career.

For more information about Adult Basic Education for College and Career classes, email

adulted@pima.edu, call 520-206-7330 or visit pima.edu/adulted.

Contact:

Laurie Kierstead-Joseph,
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Adult Basic Education for College & Career.
lkierstead@pima.edu, 520-206-7330

Wendy Scheder Black,
Director, Teaching & Learning, Adult Basic Education for College & Career
wscheder@pima.edu, 520-206-6102
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