WGTC GED Student Awarded for Highest GED Score

David James Woodburn was inquiring about welding and machinery courses at West Georgia Technical College when he learned he would first have to take the GED. In November of 2010, Woodburn enrolled in an Adult Education class on the Carroll campus and began to prepare for the GED exam. After six weeks of practice exams, he took the GED but was nervous about the outcome.

“To be quite honest, I didn’t think I was going to pass,” said Woodburn, who resides in Ephesus, Ga. “I didn’t understand the new math and I ran out of time.”

However, his anxiety was in vain. Woodburn had a perfect score on four of the five subtests and an overall average of 787, with 800 being perfect. His GED score was the highest in Georgia in 2010.

“I was not surprised,” said Barbara Jeffery, Woodburn’s GED instructor. “His score was certainly well-deserved.”

“I commend all of our Adult Education students for taking the next step in their education,” said West Georgia Technical College President Dr. Skip Sullivan. “We are very proud of Woodburn and his accomplishments.”

Woodburn was honored at the 2011 Fall Adult Education Conference awards banquet on October 13 in Atlanta. He received the GED Testing Service National Award for Outstanding Achievement and the GED Testing Service National Award for Distinguished Achievement in Attaining Highest Scores on the Tests.

“I was really surprised when they called my name,” said Woodburn. “It was a feeling of well-being.”

Woodburn is now enrolled in the Machine Tool Technology Diploma program at West Georgia Technical College. He balances his time between his family, school, and managing a small farm and motorcycle shop.

“I don’t revel in ignorance; I read and I’m curious,” said Woodburn. “I’ve always been interested in knowledge. Life is about learning.”