By Jo Chiparo COLLEGE GRADUATES: Tammy Reed (back right) of Newberry, Patty Cox (back left) of Odon and Pam Bailey (front) of Worthington, along with six students from Paoli and Loogootee centers, completed classes Monday evening for an associate's degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. They took the classes at the Community Learning Center.

SWITZ CITY -- Three students from Greene County Learning Center were the first to recently complete a degree through a newly instituted pilot program in which classes were not only all video classes, but were incorporated with learning centers in Orange and Martin counties.

Tammy Reed of Newberry, Patty Cox of Odon and Pam Bailey of Worthington, along with six students from Paoli and Loogootee centers, completed classes Monday evening for an associate's degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

After two years, the students from the three campuses personally met for the first time Monday evening at GCLC to study for the last session and to celebrate their educational achievement.

Cam Trampke, coordinator at Greene County Learning Center, explained that previously all classes were taught at one center; however, each class is required to have at least 12 students.

By joining other centers for this pilot program, the enrollment requirement was met each semester making it possible for students to complete a degree in the minimum amount of time. Furthermore, the program was shortened from a 16-week semester to a five-week accelerated course.

Reed and Cox, Crane employees, and Bailey, who is a medical office manager, said the program was an excellent opportunity for people in the area who want to further their education.

By joining other campuses, they said it was certain that classes would not be canceled, and by classes offered close to home, it was convenient for people in the work force to attend college.

"If not for the team projects with all of us pulling together, several times with work loads and families I would had to have dropped classes," noted Reed.

Cox agreed saying she had to travel for Crane several times while working on her degree and students helped her by reviewing information she had missed.

"I want to also thank Cam (Trampke) for facilitating this program," Cox added. "To have someone on site to assist students and to make sure they have what they need is extremely important."

Trampke noted that having someone on campus is a unique feature of the learning centers.

"There is a single point of contact on a daily basis making sure things are operating, that students and universities are getting information and that everybody is in their places," Trampke explained. "The learning center is a front door to many other institutions and is another aspect of filling the needs of the community."

For her, Trampke said it is very rewarding to see people fulfill their goals and ambitions because she understands the responsibilities of working mothers having work and family responsibilities.

"It's a win-win situation," Trampke added. "It's a win for the community because it builds an educated work force. It's a win for employees getting skilled employees, and it's a win for individuals acquiring skills that they need to further their career. Having a learning center in the community serving as that bridge is a real asset."

Trampke continued by saying local learning centers will also be one of the key components in having a work force to meet employees' needs as WestGate develops.

She said Indiana Wesleyan is hosting an information movie at Greene County Learning Center on Sept. 25 that will focus on additional programs that offer an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree.

For further information on the movie or the GCLC, call (812) 654-3862.