Published: May 19, 1999

Migrant and seasonal workers who earned general education diplomas through the University of Colorado at BoulderÂ’s High School Equivalency Program at Brighton/Fort Lupton will graduate on Friday, May 28.

¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ 1,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Northglenn at 120th Avenue and I-25. Family, friends and other supporters will be there to see 150 students ranging in age from 16 to 63 receive their high school equivalency diplomas.

Since 1983, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder has coordinated the nationÂ’s largest High School Equivalency Program by operating centers in La Junta, Alamosa and Brighton/Fort Lupton. Close to 14,000 Colorado students have earned diplomas in the programÂ’s 16-year history.

The program is one of 23 in the country funded by the Office of Migrant Education, a part of the U.S. Department of Education.

"We see it as part of our outreach to the community," said Leonard Baca, director of the BUENO Center for Multicultural Education in the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder School of Education.

The program also provides students with career counseling, vocational skills training and help in enrolling in colleges, universities and vocational trade schools. In addition it provides ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder education students with exposure to some of ColoradoÂ’s educational needs, Baca said.

For more information call HEP director Ray Archibeque in ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-BoulderÂ’s BUENO Center at 303-492-1359, Cathi Rangel at 303-654-1000, Pam Campbell at 303-857-4022, or Frank Nelson in the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder Office of News Services at 303-492-3113.