May 26, 2026

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded East Mississippi Community College’s Adult Education Department a $10,000 grant that will be used to purchase instructional materials, supplies and software, as well as one-time gas cards for students with a demonstrated financial need.

“About $5,000 of the grant funds is dedicated to instructional materials,” EMCC Adult Education Director Tshurah Dismuke said. “That is exciting to our instructors who will be able to update the materials they use in the classrooms to teach their students.”

Another $4,500 of the grant funds will be allocated to renew existing instructional software and to purchase new software programs that allow students to study online.

“We are seeing an increase in students from outside our area who are wanting online adult education classes,” Dismuke said. “The use of software is allowing us to increase our online offerings.”

The remaining $500 of the grant funds will be used to purchase $10 gas cards for up to 50 students that can be disbursed as needed.

“If they are having financial trouble and need some transportation assistance, we will be able to provide that,” Dismuke said.

Dubbed the “Launch Pad,” EMCC’s Adult Education Department offers free preparatory classes for the GED and HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) out of four locations. There are sites in Columbus and at EMCC’s Golden Triangle, Scooba and West Point campuses.

The Launch Pad also prepares students for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, as well as the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate. Smart Start training is also available, which helps students with work-readiness skills such as developing good work habits and effective communication skills. There is no charge for Adult Education classes or materials.

“Earning a high school equivalency diploma and enrolling in a training program at EMCC can be a life-changing experience for students in our Adult Education program,” EMCC President Dr. Alsobrooks said. “We are grateful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for this grant that will benefit our students and for the exceptional work of our faculty and staff in the Adult Education Department. The impact they have on their students and the community at large is tremendous.”

Adult Education staff also provide instruction to inmates at the Kemper/Neshoba County Regional Correctional Facility in DeKalb.

“One of the things we would like to do is to be able to provide them with books and resources that they can actually take back to their housing area to study with,” Dismuke said.

Many Adult Education students have gone on to earn a certificate or associate degree from EMCC, with some later earning bachelor’s or graduate degrees.

Aberdeen resident Nick Provias enrolled in the Adult Education program at EMCC and, after earning a high school equivalency diploma, enrolled in the college’s Diesel Mechanics program.

Provias, who graduated from EMCC earlier this month, enjoyed working on heavy equipment owned by his family’s construction company and felt the field of diesel repair would be a good fit for him.

While still in class, Provias was offered a paid internship with Knight Coach of Starkville, attending school in the mornings and working on the group transport company’s buses after lunch.

“The Adult Education Department at EMCC opened a lot of doors for me in terms of what I could do to continue my education,” Provias said.

“Nick’s journey reflects the direct pathway from Adult Education into workforce training and employment,” Dismuke said.

The Launch Pad offers both in-class and online instruction, and students have the option of doing both.

The grant will allow the addition of software to help students prepare online for the GED or HiSET and to expand workforce training in soft skills, such as resume writing and team building.

EMCC also offers short-term training programs that are also available to Adult Education students, in areas such as Certified Nursing Assistant, HVAC, and Machining, to name a few.

This past semester, several Adult Education students completed EMCC’s short-term Industrial Welding program.

“This is a strong example of students advancing their skills and positioning themselves for competitive wages in high-demand fields,” Dismuke said.

Among the students to earn a high school equivalency and to complete the short-term Welding program was Columbus resident Cami Knight, who said, “High school just wasn’t for me. I wanted to go to work.”

After working at restaurants, Knight found she wanted more. She enrolled in the Adult Education program at EMCC, as well as the short-term welding program.

“I enjoy welding and can see myself making a career out of this,” she said. “I would like to get a couple of years’ experience in the field locally and then I am hoping to work on the pipeline in Arizona.”

This is the third time EMCC’s Adult Education Department has been awarded a Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant. EMCC was the only community college in Mississippi to receive a grant from the fund this year.

According to a Dollar General Literacy Foundation press release, the foundation disbursed a record $16 million in grants nationwide over a single day this year to support adult, family and summer literacy programs in the 48 states where Dollar General operates.

“Since the Foundation’s inception in 1993, our focus has remained on making meaningful investments in students, teachers, and the organizations that support literacy and learning at every stage of life,” said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “We are grateful for the impact teachers and educators make every day and are excited to have another record setting year of helping expand literacy access for learners of all ages. These funds will help educators enhance their instruction and create opportunities that help empower students to reach their full potential.”

One thing Dismuke would like to emphasize is that for many students, the Adult Education Department is just a starting point.

“Students are not limited to earning their high school equivalency,” Dismuke said. “They have the option to enroll simultaneously in career and technical programs while working toward their HSE. This model accelerates their transition into the workforce and increases their earning potential.”

More information about EMCC’s Adult Education programs, including contact information, is available here: https://bit.ly/30ez7fp

Want to support literacy? The Dollar General Literacy Foundation plans to launch its seventh annual The Yellow Glasses Project campaign on July 20, 2026, in which customers can purchase yellow sunglasses at Dollar General stores for $2 each to benefit the DGLF.