Students in Wayne Community College’s Quest Academy have earned certificates of completion for finishing the program.
The year-long Quest Academy is designed for higher level English Language Acquisition (ELA) students to increase their English vocabulary and grammar skills. Students in the program also learn about a range of occupational programs, work toward certifications, and obtain necessary skills and strategies to prepare for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
The graduates received their certificates and were celebrated at a ceremony filled with their family, friends, and instructors.
Maria Abalo-Zarate, ELA coordinator and founder of the Quest Academy at WCC, congratulated the graduates on completing the program through their effort and determination. “Thank you for giving your best and for sharing your stories, your smiles, and your light, even when the path sometimes wasn’t that easy,” she said. “You inspired us every day.”
A few of the graduates shared their own remarks during the ceremony.
Deborah Nadborny from Argentina said the day was a celebration of growth, resilience, and community. “Today is a very special and emotional day,” she said. “We come from different countries, cultures, and stories, but inside this classroom, we became a team. Today, we celebrate not only what we’ve learned but who we’ve become in the process.”
Jazmin Carolina Guillen Peyton from Mexico viewed the ceremony as a milestone in the graduates’ journeys. “As a classmate, I am very proud to see you all reach this point, and it has been quite an adventure since all of this started,” she said to her fellow graduates. “Thank you to the teachers, mentors, family, and friends who have supported us along the way.”
For Vanesa Soledad Nusynkier from Argentina, the ceremony marked the ending of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. “Wayne Community College gave us an amazing opportunity. We experienced the true meaning of community,” she said. “We didn’t just learn grammar or vocabulary; we learned to believe in ourselves.”
WCC ELA Instructor Brandie Pavon addressed her students, who she called “friends,” commending them for their perseverance to learn a new language when it felt overwhelming at times. “Some of you will go on to take college courses, and others of you will step confidently into new careers. Don’t be afraid to dream even bigger,” she encouraged. “Keep asking questions, keep improving, and most importantly, keep believing in yourself.”
One graduate, Johnny Dasny, was a doctor in Haiti and is hopeful that the Quest Academy will open doors for him to continue working in healthcare in the United States. “In this program, I learned so much. It’s a new step in my life with experiences that I didn’t have before,” Dasny shared. “It was wonderful. I’ll never forget a thing like this.”
The 20 Quest Academy graduates are:
Jenny Marisol Aguilar
Yierdelie Alexis
Yves Marshall Amilcar
Guerda Clersaint
Andrea Cottone
Johnny Dasny
Juana Esparza-Avila
Fabian Fucci
Jazmin Carolina Guillen Peyton
Louise Nadia Illozier
Elizabeth Maier
Ruth Cristina Morales de Venegas
Deborah Nadborny
Vanesa Soledad Nusynkier
Alejandra Perez
Lucina Ruiz-Nandi
Araceli Sanchez
Josue Sanon
Lourdes Santiago Santos
Melissa Esperanza Smith Garcia
Visit WCC’s website to learn more about the ELA program and Quest Academy.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.