Inspired by the determination and resilience showcased at the Clarendon County Adult Education winter commencement, State Representative Fawn Pedalino and her husband, Joe Pedalino, have donated 24 computers to the program. The generous contribution, made after hearing Director Lara Kolb’s heartfelt speech at the December 17 ceremony, aims to address critical challenges faced by the program.
Kolb addressed the obstacles her staff and students have overcome, including relocating to a new facility in Turbeville with minimal resources. “We moved into a building that had nothing, literally nothing,” Kolb said during her speech. Despite the hardships, the program ranks among the top adult education programs in the state for success rates and growth. However, the lack of computers had remained a barrier to fully utilizing their testing center.
The program was promised a state-of-the-art facility in May, but by July, they were told there was no money in the budget. The district would need to utilize “lost funds” to build the computer lab. While waiting for the promised desktop computers and smart boards, Adult Ed staff were testing students, including Early Childhood program students from the F.E. DuBose Career Center, one at a time on a single computer.
Moved by Kolb’s words, Representative Pedalino, who has attended several adult education graduations since her cousin graduated from the program in 2022, felt compelled to act. “My husband had a set of computers that were meant to be sold, and we thought, ‘Why not just donate them?’” Pedalino said.
On December 19, just two days after the ceremony, the Pedalinos, joined by their staff, daughters, and friends Jose and Maureen Calvo, personally delivered and installed the computers at the program’s Turbeville location. The donation will help the program’s ability to serve both students and the broader community, allowing for a much-needed boost in accessibility and efficiency.
“Adult education holds a special place in my heart,” Pedalino added. “Each interaction with their program has only reinforced my confidence in their unwavering commitment to providing the best opportunities for their students. When Dr. Kolb mentioned that they lacked computers, I recognized a meaningful opportunity to support their mission and address this critical need.”
Newly elected State Senator Jeffrey Zell, who also attended the commencement, praised the donation and emphasized the vital role of adult education in the community. “Adult Education is an organization of opportunities,” Zell said. “As Director Kolb stated, it offers second chances for some and the only chance for others. I am committed to strengthening Adult Education to ensure they have the necessary resources, programs, and funding to reach more people in the community, especially those who have been left behind.”
Now, Kolb is looking forward to January registration while they work toward their goal of a fully online application and testing process by August 2025. With the new computers in place, she expressed her deep gratitude for the Pedalinos’ generosity.
“What a gift! You know? Who does that? She sees that it’s all about the students’ needs and she feels it,” Kolb said. “I’m just, again, I have no words. How do you say thank you to somebody who does that for you? And not for me, I mean, that’s nice, but that’s for the program. Ten years from now we’ll still be using those computers. How do you say thank you for that?”
