Snellville offering digital badge program for online credits

Snellville Economic Development interns Kevin O’Reilly and Nicholas Dawson at the DIgital Badge Program launch.

Snellville Economic Development interns Kevin O’Reilly and Nicholas Dawson at the DIgital Badge Program launch.

Snellville recently launched a Digital Badge Program with a meeting between city officials and area educators.

A digital badge is a verified online certificate for an accomplishment or skill. Badges are earned by completing online courses such as financial management, and can be used by students, job seekers or employees looking to advance their education or career.

The city is looking to partner with area schools to offer the free program to students using LRNG.org, an online resource powered by Southern New Hampshire University.

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel, who helped organize the program, said he believes Snellville is the only city in Georgia and the smallest city in the country to adopt the program, joining larger cities like Chicago, Washington, DC and Philadelphia.

The program piqued the interest of Shiloh High School Principal Danyel Dollard. “For our seniors, what better way to be prepared for college than a financial literacy class,” she said. “The wheels are spinning on how we can use this.”

Information: www.LRNG.org or Eric Van Otteren at evanotteren@snellville.org.