After George and Sandy Sigmon attended an international conference concerning a plethora of topics including illiteracy in 1992, they were compelled to make a difference in their own community.

The couple returned home to North, and Sandy resigned her position as a Clemson Extension worker to set up an intergenerational literacy program known as the North Family Community School.

The school has changed names and locations over the course of its 12-year existence, but its mission remains the same. The North Challenge Center, as the school is now called, is located at 4651 Savannah Highway in North.

It serves all ages, but concentrates on adult literacy education spanning from level 0 to preparation for a General Equivalency Diploma.

The Challenge Center employs three teachers, one of whom works specifically with computer-based instruction. Course offerings include a variety of literacy courses along with community interest courses first-aid and precision measurement.

"We charge a minimal fee for each of these courses because we need to pay our teachers and maintain our building," said Mrs. Sigmon, who serves as center director.

Another course offering will soon be available at the site.

"First Citizens Bank has agreed to offer a Money Smart course. It will cover everything from how to save through investing and will be divided into specific sessions. A person may attend all or some of the sessions. Each session is $5. A person may attend all or some of the sessions," she said, noting that the courses are offered at an economical price.

"That's quite a bargain. One of the reasons why we are able to offer such rates is that we have been blessed with community support, volunteers and donations. Volunteers teach some of the community interest classes, and the majority of the equipment we have was donated," she said.

The center receives limited state and county funds along with money from grants and donations," she said, noting that the center's nine-member board of directors also helps in a variety of ways.

"Our goal is not to make a profit, but to profit others by seeing them attain personal success in achieving their goals. We currently serve all six areas outlined by the National Reporting System and are an approved South Carolina GED preparation center. Our center is for people who were never successful in regular school, but who really want to learn," she said.

The day program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. The evening program runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and Thursday nights.

The center runs a community-based program and has a collaborative agreement with the North Town Council and the North Business Association to continue it's mission to reduce illiteracy.

The center also offers unemployed individuals referrals to an area One Stop Center for job rehabilitation or retraining along with its help for dislocated workers, she said.

"Our purpose is to provide everyone the opportunity to become literate. We strive to teach ... according to the needs of our students," said Sigmon, who shared one of her most interesting experiences as center director.

"Once, I was watching a program on Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, the inability to read black words on white people. We had an individual here who just couldn't seem to make much progress. We decided, based on Irlin's research as presented in the program, to test for this disorder. We purchased some tinted transparencies and laid them on top of the paper. When the student looked at the paper under the tint, she could see the letters. It was such a joyful breakthrough!" she said, noting that employees have since received Power Path training through the state so that they can recognize and better help individuals who suffer from assorted learning difficulties.

The Challenge Center has 28 GED students and a number of transient students who are learning computer skills, sign language or other skills of interest. Sigmon said there is a need for volunteers, especially one to serve as an office assistant. There are some vacancies on the board of directors as well.

If you would like to volunteer, become a member of the board of directors, or receive more information on the center, please call The Challenge Center at 803-247-3433. Sigmon can also be reached by e-mail at sasigmon@aikenelectric.net.

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