More than 200 people of all ages are expected to receive their general education development certificates tonight at Flathead Valley Community College.

Scheduled for 6:30 p.m., the ceremony takes place in the large meeting room in the Arts and Technology Building.

The number of GED recipients fluctuated as test scores continued to arrive on Monday.

“Right now I’m at 235,” said Margaret Girkins, program director of adult basic education.

People receive a certificate at tonight’s ceremony while their GED diploma arrives via mail.

The graduation program features student and instructor speakers as well as a welcome from college President Jane Karas.

Student speakers often describe issues in their lives that caused them to drop out of high school and how they became motivated to complete their education and earn a GED diploma.

According to Girkins, the GED ceremony always has inspiring and moving speakers. Instructors also become quite emotional as they say goodbye to their motivated students.

“We have one instructor who every year says she is going to get through it without getting emotional and every year she does get emotional,” Girkins said, with a laugh.

Another ceremony highlight is special recognition of students who received high scores. Refreshments are provided for graduates and their family members and friends who come to celebrate their achievement.

Tonight’s recipients range in age from 16 to 60. The group includes students who took adult basic education classes through the college, people who studied on their own and others who just scheduled to take the test without additional study.

“Some left high school just a little early,” Girkins said.

People seek the GED diploma for a variety of reasons. Older diploma seekers often want to provide an example of the importance of education for their children or grandchildren while the younger people hope for better job prospects.

Girkins said the GED graduation has exceeded 200 people for the last couple of years. With the economic downturn and fewer jobs, people without a high school diploma or GED find they often don’t even make it to the interview stage when seeking a job.

Employers use that as a standard to find their best prospects out of a large pool of applicants.

“It’s a budget issue,” she said. “It costs money to train people and they want an indication that a person has the motivation to succeed and stay.”

According to Girkins, the nation’s job market has evolved to where most steady jobs that pay enough to support a family require training even beyond high school. To qualify for most of that training, people need a high school diploma or GED.

A recent change makes it even more important for people who need get financial aid like Pell Grants for training or schooling.

“As of July 1, to get federal financial aid, you have to have a GED or diploma,” Girkins said. “That’s a big change.”

To receive a GED, an applicant must successfully pass a five-part test that takes 7 1/2 hours. Sections cover proficiency in writing, math, reading, social studies and science.

To help people prepare, the college offers free adult basic education classes at various places around the Flathead Valley as well as in Libby and Eureka. Even people with diplomas but who have been out of school a long time and need to brush up may take the classes. Pre-testing reveals weak areas such as math or writing.

“Some need to build reading skills,” Girkins said. “We work with them from where they are. We also work in partnership with the literacy program.”

The community college website, FVCC.edu.org, has more information accessible by clicking GED/Adult Basic Education in the blue box at the bottom of the home page.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.