Melfa, VA – The 2008 Voices of the Adult Learner Celebration will be held at Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa on Saturday, April 26.  The event is co-sponsored by the Eastern Shore Literacy Council and ESCC's Adult Education Program.   

Learners involved in ESCC’s Adult Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages and in the Eastern Shore Literacy Council  submit essays or poetry.  This year’s essay topics are:  My Goals and The Most Fun I Ever Had.  Poems may be written on any topic.  Nine winners will be selected, one in each of the three categories from each of the three programs participating.  Each winner will receive a $25.00 check.  Every essay and poem entered will be printed in a book and each entrant will receive a certificate of participation.   

Voices of Adult Learners is an annual competition among adult learners in the Eastern Shore.  Publication of the entries began in 1994 as a means to showcase the writings of Eastern Shore adult learners and to motivate others to continue their education.  Many of the students come to the College for the first time for the Voices Celebration. 

Families and friends also get a chance to learn more about services and classes available to students. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. The group will gather in the auditorium at 9:30 a.m. with workshops to be offered from 10:30 a.m. until noon.  The awards ceremony portion of the event will be held at noon by lunch in the Student Lounge. 

The event is free and open to the public, but reservations must be made in advance for those planning to stay for lunch.  Reservations may be made by calling Chevelle Mason at 757-757-5826. For more information about services available through the Eastern Shore Literacy Council call Janet Booth at 757-442-6637  For more information about ESCC’s Adult Education Program contact the College at 757-789-1789 or visit the College Web site at http://www.es.vccs.edu/.

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