BIDDEFORD — The Sanford Community Adult Education Center changed Jessica Regis’ life. In 10th grade, the now single mother of two from Sanford dropped out of school when she became pregnant with her first child.

But she enrolled her child in the adult education’s First Steps Childcare program and then connected with the adult education program and began taking classes there.

“Because of the program, I was able to graduate high school and it helped me go on to college,” said Regis.

In 1997, she earned her high school diploma, and in 2008, she graduated with an associate’s degree from York County Community College in Wells. Soon after, she became the director of the Sanford Community Adult Education First Steps Childcare Program, the place where her continued education first began.

On Friday, Regis was recognized for her achievement by former first lady Barbara Bush. It was in part because of the Barbara Bush Foundation For Family Literacy, which provides funding for the Sanford program and others around the state, that Regis was able to change her life.

According to Bush Foundation’s Program Director Rebecca Dyer, since 1996, when the foundation began awarding grants, 257 grants totaling more than $4.6 million have been awarded to family literacy programs in Maine.

The first lady founded the foundation in 1989 and has awarded $43 million to nearly 1,000 programs in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., she said.

The foundation supports developing and expanding family literacy programs that promote parents and children learning together.

On Friday, Bush handed out awards totaling $310,000 to 14 organizations that promote family literacy at the George and Barbara Bush Center at the University of New England. York County programs that were given awards include: The York School Department, Child Care Services of York County, Sanford Community Adult Education, Noble Adult and Community Education, Lebanon Family Learners, and Learning Works, which is based in Portland and has programs in Biddeford.

Michelle Lucas of Bath and her family ”“ husband Tony and daughters Julia, 8, and Emily, 2 ”“ have all benefited from the foundation’s work.

After enrolling her oldest daughter in Bath’s SAIL into Literacy program, Michelle Lucas and her husband signed up for adult education classes.

“Participating in this program has changed my life,” she said. “I got a GED, a driver’s license and a job.”

Both Lucas and her husband dropped out of school in 10th grade when she became pregnant. Both worked for a while, but then Michelle Lucas became pregnant with her second child. Around the same time, her husband was laid off from his job. The family went on welfare.

They used that time to go back to school.

Eventually, both parents earned their GEDs and found jobs.

“I am proud to say our family is no longer on welfare,” said Lucas.

She said she and her husband would like to continue their education and attend community college.

As a surprise, Bush and her daughter, Doro Bush Koch, co-chair of the foundation, awarded Michelle and Tony Lucas an $8,000 scholarship for their future education.

This was the first award for a new scholarship program of the foundation.

Bush told Lucas, “Michelle, you and your family, you’re everything that makes what people (in the foundation) do worthwhile.”

“When we give them the power of literacy,” said Koch, “there’s nothing they can’t do.”

In addition to Bush and her daughter, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Maine’s first lady Ann LePage and UNE President Danielle Ripich attended the awards ceremony.

* An earlier version of this story was published with an error. This version reflects the correction(s). Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.