It's Gretchen Wilson Day for singer's adult ed efforts

Wilson, a Grammy-Award winning country music singer and recent GED (General Equivalency Diploma) graduate, was in Knoxville for a concert to promote her new single Work Hard, Play Harder.

She received the honor from County Mayor Mike Ragsdale and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam with a proclamation stating "it is the goal of Knox County Schools Adult Education and Knox County governing bodies to enroll citizens without high school diplomas in GED programs."

Wilson has enjoyed a successful music career, but until last year, she never finished high school. At 34, she received her GED, and this past May she spoke in front of a Congressional panel about the importance of funding for adult education. In September, the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) and the Center for the Book presented Wilson with a 2009 NCL Literacy Leadership Award at a reception at the Library of Congress for her contributions to improving literacy and raising awareness of the adult literacy and English language learning needs in the U.S.

Both mayors signing the proclamation urge citizens to become familiar with the services and benefits offered by adult education through support and participation in these programs. They also highlight the importance of having a sufficient base of skilled workers in Knoxville and encourage citizens to continue education and job training.