If your New Year's Resolution is to earn a high school diploma or GED, January is the time to begin.

The Cherokee County Adult Education program will enroll new students Friday, Jan. 9, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at its office on Allison Road behind the National Guard Armory. Enrollment is for anyone needing course work to finish a high school diploma, GED preparation for a high school equivalency diploma, or who has an interest in earning a WorkKeys career readiness certificate, Cherokee County Adult Education teacher Beth Martin said.

Students will work towards taking the GED exam March 21 in Gaffney.

Teachers will be available to help students prepare for the state exit exam in April. Students must pass the exit exam to graduate from high school.

"The Cherokee County Adult Education program offers morning, afternoon, and evening classes to accommodate different schedules," Martin said. "In addition, there are GED and high school diploma scholarships available for students 17 to 21 years of age."

The Cherokee County Adult Education program received a number of individual and school awards Dec. 30 during a state Department of Education ceremony.

Cherokee County received a Palmetto Masters award for exceeding the state GED first attempt pass rate of 67 percent last school year. The local adult education program was awarded a Palmetto Trend Setters award since its overall passing rate was above the state's average of 70 percent.

The adult education program received a Career Readiness Award for producing the highest number of students with career readiness certificates. Cherokee County awarded 259 certificates in 2008 through the WorkKeys program, a national career assessment from the ACT testing company.

School district superintendent Dr. Bill James and adult education director Lisa Hannon received the Palmetto Pace-Setters award.

The award is presented to school districts that provided new facilities for adult education programs. The $7 million Cherokee Community Learning Center opened last summer.

Cherokee County teacher Paula Marett was named the Part-time Teacher of the Year.

Martin was selected to the Adult Education Teacher's Hall of Fame. Nancy Jo Sellars was inducted into the Administrative Staff Hall of Fame.

Nominees to the hall of fame have at least 10 years experience and are nominated by their adult education directors.