EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE)
The Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education program recognizes and honors students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in statewide adult education classes. The Awards Program is designed to create a greater awareness of the educational opportunities that are available in local communities across the state and to foster involvement in lifelong learning pursuits.
In restructured local and state-level program design, local teachers in public, private and volunteer agencies nominate students in two categories of competition. These students compete at local service delivery area and state levels. The two categories of competition are the Current Student category, which includes Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), and the English Literacy Program (ELP); and the General Educational Development (GED) graduate category.
The competition is open to all students who enter at the county level. Representing 37 service delivery areas, several hundred students are recognized as they advance through the local to state-level competition. Hundreds of EAGLE winners are eligible to compete, with a maximum of 74 students advancing to state level competition. Annually, several hundred EAGLE winners statewide are invited to attend regional, local and community activities as spokespersons for literacy.
The two declared winners, one in each category at the state level of final competition, become “Ambassadors for Literacy” and serve their local communities and the state for one year by promoting lifelong learning. Since its inception in 1993, the EAGLE Awards Program has recognized more than 1500 outstanding students with 65 exceptional adult students voluntarily serving as Literacy Ambassadors.
The EAGLE Awards Program has an enormous impact on the EAGLE winners and their families in a variety of ways:
- education
- employment
- increased consumer and citizenship skills
- improved self esteem and improved public speaking
- increased financial worth through promotions and pay raises
Because of the recognition activities at each level of competition, EAGLE winners and Literacy Ambassadors serve as role models for family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers encouraging all to become learners. In addition to serving as volunteers, EAGLE winners are mentors, peer tutors, and recruiters of other students in local programs.
