One test score made all the difference in Kim Dugan's life.

“I cried because I was so happy, I couldn't believe I did it. I did not believe after all these years I was able to do it,” said Dugan of Evans City about passing her high school equivalency exams. “I can finally say that I have it.”

Dugan is one of 60 students from Butler and Mercer counties who will graduate Wednesday at Succop Theater from the Butler County Community College's free adult literacy program with high school equivalency diplomas.

At 55, earning her GED is something she wanted to do, said Dugan, who works with people who have intellectual disabilities.

Dugan, who has three children, had been out of school since 1981.

Her 4-year-old granddaughter. Grace, who is a triplet, is immobile and requires 24-hour care.

Dugan shares her passion of horses with Grace when she takes her on horse rides with her pony Paul.

“She is immobile, but does like to ride Paul,” she said adding the pair also takes walks and read together. “I often thought about going to nursing school just so I could help take care of her.”

Grace became Dugan's primary inspiration to earn her high school equivalency diploma.

She also needed to earn the diploma for her job, she said.

Dugan enrolled in January and said she has enjoyed every moment of the experience from the accommodating and supporting instructors to tutoring and extra homework.

“There's absolutely no judgement in that class,” she said.

In addition to studying, Dugan juggled her full-time job and the care of her horses.

“I didn't have a whole lot of extra time to study, but most of it you can do online as you get handouts,” she said about the three hours a week she dedicated to studying outside of class.

The diploma is a symbol of hard work, Dugan said.

“It means never say never,” she said.

Dugan recommends people pursue their high school equivalency diploma.

“Anybody can go for it,” she said. “By all means, go for it.”

Another graduate ready to walk the stage is Butler resident Nathan Hampe, who has been a full-time in-home care assistant for the Arc of Butler County for about four months.

Before that, he worked as a pizza cook for three years.

Hampe decided he wanted a better job and enrolled in BC3's program, he said.

The course was a refresher for Hampe because it had only been about two years since he dropped out of high school.

“It's a really good process — fast and easy,” said Hampe, 20.

At the graduation ceremony, he will be one of the speakers to talk about the motivation that drove them through the program and the overall experience.

Hampe plans to study business administration at BC3 in the fall. In the future, he dreams to own his own business.

Hampe said the diploma he will receive Wednesday is proof of the future ahead of him.

“The message I want to get across is that even though you drop out of high school, it's not the end of your life,” he said. “You have a future and career ahead of you as long as you work hard.”

WHAT: Butler County Community College's high school equivalency graduation ceremonyWHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. WednesdayWHERE: Butler County Community College's Succop Theater, 107 College Drive