Adult education is now gradually gaining grounds in many parts of the globe as countries realize that persuading school drop out adults and professionals to go back to schools and earn a degree is of vital importance. The need of being educated not only lies in the young generation but to the school drop outs as well to find time to enroll and become professionals, and those professionals looking for more opportunities.

The 2008 graduation ceremony at the Conway Adult Education Center will be attended by veteran educator of her time, Dr. Emma Kelly Rhodes, as this year’s graduation speaker. This is a very momentous event for the graduates as said accomplished educator is going to share her knowledge on May 17. Rhodes, according to reports has a very exciting story to tell about her life as a student until she became a very successful and accomplished educator.

Rhodes is happily married to the late Clyde Rhodes, Sr and their union bore seven children. As retired educator and former administrator for the Arkansas Department, Rhodes significant success was largely attributed to her doctorate degree in education after being a 10th grade dropout in high school at 15. Upon reaching the age of 29, Rhodes also became a widow when her husband died. Despite of that sad part of her life being left with seven children she still manage to sent them to high school, college and technical school aside from obtaining her GED. Rhodes obtained her BA degree at Philander Smith College and at the University of Houston. She had her master’s degree at UCA and pursued her Master of Science in Education also at UCA. She also got her Educational Specialist degree and Doctorate in Education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She finished her post doctorate degree at the Little Rock’s University of Kansas for her adult education. She had established the Education and Multi-purpose Center for Adult Education, E.K Rhodes activity center. She said it has been her mission to help others as well as persuading the parents and adults to pursue their career no matter what and even if they are already adult students. As of this month there are now over 300 students which have successfully obtained their GEDs and also graduating this May at the Conway Adult Education Center.