President Obama will deliver the last State of the Union address of his Presidency on Tuesday, January 12th. To highlight the value of  community colleges helping non-traditional students earn degrees and obtain career track employment, Jennifer Bragdon, a Texas mother and community college student, will be a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama.

Throughout his Presidency Obama has emphasized an expanded role for community colleges in educating working Americans toward degrees and sustainable jobs.

According to the White House, Jennifer Bragdon’s story “showcases how community colleges can adapt to the needs of students.

“Jennifer, 42, and her husband, George, work full-time to pay for bills and provide childcare for their one-year-old daughter, and Jennifer’s other responsibilities restrict her to one class at a time. Even though she won’t graduate for a few more years, she plans to complete her degree and become a middle school teacher. She enrolled in a new developmental math course at Austin Community College (ACC) after being out of a traditional classroom for more than 20 years, and has now successfully completed her college algebra requirements.

In March, Dr. (Jill) Biden met Jennifer at ACC and learned about the campus’ high-tech learning lab that provides more than 600 computer stations for individualized learning and small group sessions, highlighting the ways community colleges are providing flexibility and support for students to stay on track to earn their degrees. Jennifer works as a massage therapist and lives in Austin, Texas with her family.”

Information about all special  guests, including CT Governor Dannel Malloy,  and news about the State of the Union is available at WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU.