April 4, 2011 - Today, Albany Technical College Academic Achievement Center Director, Elaine Mercer, presented a well-deserved achievement award to Ruby Bivens in the Center’s math lab.
Students working in the lab applauded as the award was presented to Bivens, who has worked her way through the entire Learning Support math courses. She dedicated over 200 hours to the Math Center last quarter alone and continues to go to the Center to continue building her math skills.
Bivens worked for four years at the Moultrie HeadStart before deciding to go back to school. She says her children encouraged her to go back and get her degree and fulfill the life-long dream of owning her own daycare one day.
An Early Childhood Care and Education program student, Bivens is currently pursuing her certificate, but plans to continue on to earn her diploma and associate degree here at Albany Tech.
“I had to learn the math again in order to pass the entrance exam and get into my program,” said Bivens. “The math lab staff, especially Ms. Shakitha Hadley, were always patient and willing to work with you to learn the material.”
Center Director, Elaine Mercer, says that they serve a wide variety of students from those who may be just out of high school to those like Bivens who has been out of high school a long time and needs to refresh in order to pass the entrance exam.
The Albany Tech Academic Achievement Center opened on campus in 2009 as part of a Title III Grant awarded to the college to aid learning support students in the areas of reading and math. The Center has grown to serve other students who may need to learn study skills, note-taking skills, and several other areas to enhance their college learning experience.
Pictured (left to right): Ruby Bivens, AAC Award recipient, and Elaine Mercer, Director of the Albany Tech Academic Achievement Center.