Pictured, from left, are graduates Susan Nobles, Linda Moore, Brenda Payton and Knevits Stephens. (Photo by Alyssa Lowe)

WARSAW — A very special celebration was held on Friday, May 19 for clients at Combined Community Center. Four clients were honored for recently graduating college.

Susan Nobles, Linda Moore, Knevits Stephens and Brenda Payton were all able to graduate with degrees thanks to help form CCS’s self-sufficiency programs. Both Project Independence and Hand Up help local residents with making significant life changes, such as continuing their education. These programs have been around for 24 years and helped numerous participants.

Susan Nobles graduated from Ivy Tech Community College with her associates degree. She not only graduated with honors but also served as a peer tutor. In addition to attending school, Nobles juggled being a wife and mother of three sons. She hopes to continue her education and receive her RN and BSN in nursing.

Linda Moore received her RN degree for nursing. Moore had previously been attending school when she was interrupted due to life circumstances. With help from CCS, she went back to school to receive her CNA license. Due to her hard studying she was able to not only get her CNA but also take her boards to become an RN.

Knevits Stephens graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree with honors in human resources and accounting from Indiana Tech. She worked part-time and juggled being a wife and mother to four children while going to school.

Brenda Payton graduated from Indiana Tech with her associates degree. Payton put her education on hold to raise her five kids and multiple grandkids. She went back to school and became the first person in her family to graduate college. She hopes this milestone will encourage her family to follow in her footsteps. Payton plans on returning to school with the ultimate goal of working with youth in the community.

CCS staff members were present at the celebration to honor the graduates. Tammy Smith, director of self sufficiency programs, encouraged the graduates to continue celebrating all their little and big successes as they learned to do in the program. She went on to congratulate each graduate on their huge accomplishment.