In the early 1970s Mrs. [JOAN JETER SLAY] began developing and directing St. Mary's Community Adult Program, an alternative high school for adult education. Although increasingly adults were turning to high school equivalency certificates, Mrs. Slay knew those programs were not valued in the work world as much as a high school diploma. At St. Mary's, she started a program that allowed adults to take high school courses, earn their diplomas and graduate with all the pomp and circumstance of regular students.