Many people in our community know the Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) for its high school programming, but fewer are aware of its post-secondary side: UVCC Adult Education. UVCC Adult Education offers something for everyone, whether you are looking to finish your high school diploma or start a new career.
Career-technical training programs range from industrial fields like welding, machining, HVAC/R, and advanced manufacturing to healthcare training, including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Practical Nursing, and an LPN-to-RN pathway. These programs give students practical, career-ready training that leads directly to employment.
Outside of career-technical training, UVCC Adult Education offers programs to complete a high school credential, including GED preparation, the Adult Diploma program, and Aspire classes, as well as ESOL instruction for English language learners. These programs strengthen literacy, math, and workforce readiness. The program also serves adults in the Miami County Jail and Shelby County Jail who are preparing for their High School Equivalency (HSE) and High School Diploma (HSD).
According to Census data, around 850,000 Ohioans age 18 and older report having less than a high school diploma. Each year, the Aspire program at UVCC serves approximately 400 students, with more than half making a skill gain or achieving a positive outcome.
At UVCC Adult Education, our goal with the Aspire program is to help students earn their high school credential, then help them explore career fields that might interest them.
“We make sure students are aware of all the opportunities available once they reach their goals with Aspire and Diploma Pathways Programs,” says Sarah Quick, Adult Aspire & Diploma Pathways Supervisor at UVCC. “It’s about building pathways to success, not just in academics, but in life and careers.”
This week (September 15–19) is National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, a time to recognize the need and value of adult education programs funded through AELFA/Title II, including Aspire. UVCC Adult Education is funded to serve Miami, Shelby, Darke, and Champaign Counties, and is the only provider in these counties.
In addition to her role at UVCC, Sarah is a member of the State Advocacy Fellowship with the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) where she is a member of the advocacy subcommittee. Their mission is to lead, equip, and empower the field of adult education. In addition, she serves as the Advocacy Chair for the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education (OAACE). In preparation for AEFL Week, Sarah has spent the last several weeks securing more than 30 proclamations from federal, state, and local legislators; the second consecutive year she has helped Ohio lead the nation in official recognition and support of Adult Education.
When asked why she is so passionate about this advocacy, Sarah shared, “Aspire is a critical part of Ohio’s workforce development system. While Career and Technical Education focuses on specific occupational training, Adult Education is different—we specialize in literacy, foundational academics, and English language acquisition. In many ways, we are the hidden workforce pipeline, preparing adults to succeed in postsecondary education, occupational training, and ultimately the workforce.”
Located in Piqua, Ohio, Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) offers over 25 career and technical education programs to both high school students and adults. UVCC serves students from multiple school districts in the Miami Valley region, providing hands-on training, industry certifications, and pathways to post-secondary education and careers. With a commitment to student success and innovation, UVCC is dedicated to providing the highest quality and most technologically advanced educational opportunities for students in a professional, caring environment while networking with the communities we serve.