Faith Giltner is making an early leap into her higher education career.

She graduated from the North Idaho College Adult Education GED program on Sept. 10, a day that marked the beginning of her laser-focused path to becoming a certified nursing assistant at the wise old age of 17.

She already has bigger plans to become a registered nurse once that eight-week CNA course is complete.

"My plan after my CNA is I want to go for my RN, and after that I want to switch things up and go for a homeopathic nursing license," the 16-year-old said Friday. "It’s because of missions. I love to go to foreign countries and share the word of God. With that, I wanted a point where I can start off from."

This ambitious teen was one of 200 grads who earned GED diplomas during the summer and fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters. Faith was also one of the grads named GED Students of the Year, in recognition of their dedication and attendance.

"It went really well. The instructors were amazing, I’m so glad I had them," she said. "You go at your own pace, but they pushed us to meet the deadline for graduation, despite COVID."

The Post Falls teen was triumphant and ecstatic when commencement day arrived.

“I was so happy I got to walk," she said. "We had to wear masks, but I was so happy to be able to do it, and I was so happy my family was able to be there."

Faith said her parents are amazing for the encouragement they gave her as she took the GED path.

"She’s always been my go-getter," said Faith's mom, Connie Giltner. "When she gets her mind on something, she goes for it, and she’s been that way since she was 4 years old. She's just a great kid."

Faith shares the honor of being a GED Student of the Year with seven others: Lucas Cox, Bonners Ferry; Kaelon Curto, Sandpoint; Alexis McLaughlin, Silver Valley; and Hayden Blanks, Sarah Kitchings, Henry McDaniel and Mariah Williams, Coeur d’Alene.

In addition, 11 students were awarded scholarships from the NIC Foundation: Hayden Blanks, Lucas Cox, Kaelon Curto, Kenneth Neville, Jon Kellum, Henry McDaniel, Hannah Gilbertson, Carissa McTighe, Kay Patrikas, Laurali Strong, and Sara Kitchings.

NIC’s Adult Education Center is a program designed for individuals 16 and older who have withdrawn from public school and want assistance to prepare for GED testing.

Faith said it allowed her to get a head start on college. For those considering the program, she says, "Go for it."

"It's a commitment to the homework, but it’s also gratifying once you get it done,” she said. "You just went through your whole high school years in so many months. You shortened your time span to get done sooner.”

Info: 208-665-5099 or www.nic.edu/aec