V V GED Gives Second Chance For Diploma Amco News July 1987 There were many reasons for dropping out of school then and just as many reasons now for resuming studies to get a high school diploma. And more than 20 Adams-Millis employees currently are taking advan tage of an opportunity to reach for and get their high school diploma. Sometimes it was econ omics. Other times the thought of marriage was more appealing than com pleting high school. And there were other reasons. Those reasons don’t seem as important now, a family later for some. “I always wanted to get my diploma, ” said Betty Ashley of Plant 7. “Adams-Millis is giving me the opportunity to do that and I’m going to do it.” For Nancy Myers earning a high school diploma will help to advance her career. “A better education always helps,” she said while taking a break from studies. Nellie Gragg is achieving two objectives as she works toward a high school dip loma. “My teenagers said I didn’t know what school was like,” she said. “Now I can show them I do.” Making the decision to re turn to the classroom after a number of years usually is a tough decision because of the responsibilities that ac company rearing a family and working. “After the first step it’s not hard,” said Margaret Burgin. “Just coming in here the first time is the tough part.” The current GED class be gan March 17 and Burgin said it has been fun. “But we’ve learned too,” she ad ded. Students study more than the three “Rs.” Social studies, English, math, read ing and science are each covered in the classes. The program is being offered through Guilford Technical Community Col lege. Jim Bridges, GTCC di rector of literacy education, said about 300 persons earn their high school diploma through the school’s GED program. “Technology today dic tates better education,” he said. “We think of it as ‘re tooling’ minds as well as ma chines. Bridges said GED classes are offered anywhere there is enough interest shown to make a class economically feasible. Usually, the mini mum number of students is Continue on Page 5 Fitness Makes Good Sense Mike Ryan Running Replaces Bad Habit It was seven years ago on July 28 that Mike Ryan decided to quit smoking and lose weight. Since then he has covered a lot of ground—running. At that time he weighed 210 pounds and chain-smoked three packs of cigarettes a day. Today he weighs 162 pounds, doesn’t smoke and says, “I have never felt better.” Ryan, Adams-Millis Senior Vice President of Administration and Human Resources, is among a growing number of people comm itted to wellness. That’s the buzzword. People are walking, jogging, swimming and doing many other activities to maintain good health. Several other Adams- Millis executives also have joined in personal wellness efforts. Chairman J.H. Millis Sr. is quitting smoking and is an active tennis player. President Robert Bundy also is attempting to break the smoking habit. J.H. Millis Jr., Senior Vice President of Marketing, has quit smoking runs regularly. Neel Harrison, Senior Vice President of Finance, and Jon Wallner, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, also have quit smoking. “I am firmly convinced that smoking will kill you,” Ryan said while taking a break from a noon-time run recently. “If we could get people to stop smoking we would save more lives than finding a cure for cancer or heart disease.” Ryan said he used running to replace a bad habit (smok ing). “Running now is a habit Instructor Deborah Lloyd, left, assists Dianne Mitchell, Julia Bridges. ^ Lunchtime W alk Participants in the recent walking program keep a brisk pace during a lunchtime walk. The program, including two 30-minute sessions a week for a month, was conducted to generate interest in walking for fltness. a