Cambridge Community Learning Center Celebrates 2026 Graduates

On Wednesday, June 17, the Cambridge Community Learning Center (CLC) hosted its annual graduation ceremony to celebrate 102 adult students who completed programs at the CLC during the 2025-2026 academic year.

CLC staff, teachers, and volunteers joined friends and families of graduates to recognize the accomplishments of:

• 8 graduates from the High School Equivalency Credential Program, which prepares students to take high school equivalency (HiSET and GED) exams.
• 12 graduates from the Bridge to College Program. In this program, students get ready for college by taking college-level courses that help improve their writing, math, and academic reading skills. The program also assists students in applying for college, financial aid, and scholarships.
• 14 graduates from the Early Childhood Education Career Training Program. Students in this program complete an online early childhood education course and a paid internship in a licensed early childhood program in Cambridge. Participants who successfully finish the program are eligible to earn their Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential and start working as early childhood educators.
• 41 graduates from the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program, which prepares students for careers in healthcare. The program offers two tracks - for Fluent English Speakers and for English Language Learners.
• 30 graduates from the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program, which helps students improve their reading, writing and speaking skills.

Celebratory remarks were made by the CLC's Director Maria Kefallinou, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, and Manuel Fernandez, Chief Equity Officer and Assistant Superintendent at Cambridge Public Schools. Guest speaker Dr. Pam Eddinger, the President of Bunker Hill Community College, shared about her parents' experiences as immigrants and encouraged all the graduates to keep striving to reach their goals.

A graduate representing each CLC program spoke about their experience.

Yumi Dawson, the graduate speaker for the High School Equivalency (HSE) Credential Program, gave advice to future students: "Our stories have so many chapters, and we live through so many different eras. We should be pursuing things that not just improve our circumstances but bring us genuine joy. And if pursuing your education can get you there - do it!"

And Meseret Woldemichael, the speaker for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program for English Language Learners, shared about how she came to the CLC: "I became connected to the CLC because I wanted an opportunity to grow, learn, and create a stable future through education. The CLC opened its doors to me and gave me support, encouragement, and confidence."

The ceremony also honored 33 graduates and alumni who received college scholarships sponsored by local organizations and benefactors. Phyllis Benjamin, President of The Friends of the CLC, a nonprofit organization that supports CLC, presented the scholarships. The graduation ceremony also recognized CLC volunteers and honored Jessie Ong as the CLC Volunteer of the Year for their support of our English classes at the senior center. The Cambridge Volunteers recently published a spotlight on Jessie Ong - Jessie Ong: Making Cambridge Feel like Home.

Would you like to take classes at the CLC or help support students? For more information, visit www.cambridgema.gov/CLC.