Annual observance recognizes the achievements of adult learners and the opportunities they create for themselves, their families, and their communities

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On September 16, GED Testing Service® will celebrate National GED Day, honoring individuals across the country whose determination and hard work helped them achieve an educational milestone that provides a pathway to college and careers.

National GED Day shines a spotlight on the millions of individuals who have earned their high school credential through the GED program and the many more adult learners working toward that goal. The observance also highlights the important role the GED program plays in helping adults access new opportunities and meet workforce needs in communities nationwide.

More than 30 million adults in the United States do not have a high school diploma. Earning a GED can create a pathway to higher education, workforce training, military service, and careers in high-demand industries including healthcare, manufacturing, skilled trades, and technology.

“Every GED graduate has a unique story, but they all share something important: the decision to invest in themselves and their future,” said CT Turner, President of GED Testing Service. “Whether they’re continuing their education, building a more secure future for their families, or accomplishing a goal they’ve carried for years, they’re investing in themselves and the possibility of what’s next.”

Many graduates continue their education, while others gain the qualifications and confidence to enter new fields and follow their passion.

Iris is one of those graduates. After earning her GED, she launched a career in healthcare and now works as a Medical Assistant at a fertility clinic. She plans to continue her education by becoming a Phlebotomy Technician before pursuing her long-term goal of becoming a nurse.

“My GED helped me take the first step toward the career I wanted,” said Iris. “It was challenging and rewarding at the same time. My advice is to keep trying because it’s never too late to invest in your education and build a better future.”

Iris’s story is one of many being celebrated this year.

The observance also recognizes the educators, adult education programs, employers, family members, and mentors whose support helps learners succeed.

“Behind every graduate is a network of people who believed in them and encouraged them along the way,” Turner added. “We’re proud to celebrate not only those who earned their GED, but also the teachers, mentors, family members, and employers who supported them in their journey.”

Across the country, graduates, educators, employers, and learners will mark National GED Day by sharing stories of encouragement and success. GED Testing Service invites communities to join the celebration and recognize the impact adult learners are making every day.

To learn more, read graduate stories, or join the conversation online, visit GED.com/nationalgedday and follow #NationalGEDDay.

About GED Testing Service

The GED test has opened doors to better jobs and college programs for over 21 million graduates since 1942. The GED test is accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and employers. As the creator of the official GED test, GED Testing Service ensures that the program continues to be a reliable and valuable pathway to a better life for adults without a high school diploma. GED Testing Service is a joint venture between the American Council on Education and Pearson.

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SOURCE GED Testing Service

As 2026 defense tech funding sets records, Backswing Ventures says the number that matters isn’t the valuation on a term sheet. It’s the cash that eventually lands back in an investor’s account.

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mach Industries doubled its valuation to $3.7 billion in three months. A year earlier, the company was worth $470 million. Numbers like that used to belong to consumer apps riding a viral moment. Now they belong to a drone and munitions manufacturer in El Segundo, and that says something about where defense technology sits in venture capital today.

Backswing Ventures has been watching that shift for months. The Orlando-based defense venture capital firm invests exclusively in early-stage defense and national security companies, and its founder, Kyle Asman, has been warning that the sector’s funding boom is starting to outrun its fundamentals.

“None of this means Mach or any other company raising at a big number is doing anything wrong,” Asman said. “It means the bar for what counts as a win keeps moving, and founders need to be honest about whether they’re building toward that number or borrowing against it.”

A RECORD YEAR FOR FUNDING, A QUIET YEAR FOR EXITS

Crunchbase News reported this month that 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest year on record for defense startup funding, even as venture investors are only beginning to look for exits. Asman said that gap matters more in defense tech than in most sectors, because government sales cycles run long and dual-use commercial traction takes years to prove out.

“Raising money has never been faster in this sector,” Asman said. “Turning that money into an exit is a separate problem, and a much slower one. A company can post a striking valuation and still be years from giving an investor anything more than a number on a spreadsheet.”

Fewer than 20% of 2017-2018 vintage venture funds have returned even 1x DPI to their limited partners, according to Carta’s Q1 2026 State of Private Markets report. A markup on paper is an estimate. It isn’t cash in an investor’s account until a company sells, goes public, or otherwise returns capital.

WHY BENCHMARKING OFF THE LAST BIG RAISE IS RISKY

Asman said one of the clearest signs of a hype cycle is when founders start pricing their own round off someone else’s. It’s a natural instinct. Nobody wants to raise below what a comparable company just got. But he said a valuation isn’t a market consensus. It’s a deal between one company and whichever investors decided to write the check that week.

“Ask five people at a defense conference what a given startup is worth, and you’ll get five different numbers,” Asman said. “A number that looked cautious in one round can look aggressive in the next one. Chasing the last headline is a poor way to set a price.”

WHAT BACKSWING VENTURES LOOKS FOR INSTEAD

Backswing’s own portfolio points to a different approach. The firm led financing for Isengard Industries to expand munitions manufacturing for allied militaries. It backed Orion Edge’s $3 million seed round to bring tactical electronic warfare systems to military and commercial customers. Both raises were sized to hit specific milestones. Neither was built to set a headline number.

That approach shapes how Backswing measures its own results, too. Fund II surpassed 1.0x DPI in under three years, placing it among the better-performing 2023-vintage venture funds in the country, according to the firm.

“IRR and paper markups tell you what a fund might be worth someday,” Asman said. “DPI tells you what it’s worth right now, because it’s the money that already made it back to an investor’s account. That’s the number we want to be judged on, and it’s the number we tell founders to build toward.”

THE ADVICE FOR FOUNDERS RAISING RIGHT NOW

Asman’s advice to founders in the current market is simple. Raise enough to reach the next milestone, then stop. Product validation. A government contract. A first paying customer. Those are the things that hold up once a hype cycle cools. A valuation on its own doesn’t.

“The founders who do well over the next five years probably won’t be the ones who raised at the highest number this year,” Asman said. “They’ll be the ones still standing, and still credible, once the number stopped being the story.”

ABOUT BACKSWING VENTURES

Backswing Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in dual-use and defense technology companies across aerospace, autonomy, munitions, cybersecurity, and national security. The firm’s Fund II surpassed 1.0x DPI in under three years, placing it among the top-performing 2023-vintage venture funds in the country.

CONTACT

Backswing Ventures | backswingventures@redbanyan.com

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SOURCE Backswing Ventures

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sound Credit Union (Sound) and the University of Washington Tacoma Milgard Center for Business Analytics (UWT) have announced the return of HuskyHack: Turning Innovation into Trust, a financial technology (FinTech) innovation event that invites college students from across Washington State to develop solutions that improve financial confidence and enhance the user experience.

The second annual hackathon will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the University of Washington Tacoma. Students from colleges and universities throughout the state will have the opportunity to innovate, design, and pitch FinTech solutions that address real-world challenges facing consumers and financial institutions.

“We are thrilled to host the second annual HuskyHack,” said Jennifer Reed, Vice President of Public Relations at Sound Credit Union. “Last year, we didn’t know what to expect. To say we were impressed by the innovation, collaboration, and dedication demonstrated by the participants would be an understatement. The students exceeded our expectations and developed creative solutions to real financial challenges. We are excited to see what this year’s participants will create.”

Participants may compete individually or in teams and will have 24 hours to develop a product, prototype, or concept that empowers consumers to manage their financial lives with greater confidence while strengthening trust in financial services. The specific challenge participants will be tasked with addressing will be revealed during the opening ceremonies of HuskyHack on October 17.

Participants may compete individually or as teams and will spend 24 hours developing a product, prototype, or concept designed to help consumers manage their financial lives with greater confidence while strengthening trust in financial services.

The competition will unfold in two phases. During Phase One, students will build and present their initial concepts to a panel of judges. The top three submissions will each receive a $1,000 award in recognition of their innovation and progress. Participants will then continue refining their projects before submitting final solutions for evaluation.

In Phase Two, a panel of judges – that consist of business leaders, mentors, and industry experts will evaluate submissions based on technical execution, functionality, user experience, scalability, and presentation quality. The team behind the top overall project will receive a $15,000 grand prize, along with mentorship opportunities, expert coaching, a six-month membership to CoMotion Labs, and the opportunity to explore potential partnerships that could help bring their ideas to life.

“HuskyHack gives students a unique opportunity to move beyond the classroom and apply their skills to complex, real-world challenges,” said Michael Turek, Director of the Milgard Center for Business Analytics at the University of Washington Tacoma. “By bringing together students, industry professionals, and mentors, we’re creating an environment where students can experiment, collaborate, and turn innovative ideas into solutions with real potential to improve people’s financial lives. We’re excited to partner with Sound Credit Union again to provide this kind of experiential learning opportunity for students across Washington.”

Beyond competition, HuskyHack provides students with hands-on experience in product development, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with business leaders, credit union professionals, and technology experts while gaining valuable experience in what it takes to build and pitch a fintech solution from the ground up.

Registration and additional event details are available on the event website

About Sound Credit Union
Sound Credit Union was founded in 1940 and today is one of Washington State’s largest credit unions. With 26 full-service branch locations throughout the Puget Sound area, Sound provides their over 185,000 members with authentic and trusted financial support and services. Sound is driven by the purpose of standing with members, employees and the community through all waves of life.

About University of Washington Tacoma Center for Business Analytics
The Center for Business Analytics (CBA) in the Milgard School of Business at University of Washington Tacoma serves as a catalyst for research, education and innovation. It advances the use of “analytics”, “big data” and “smart machines” for actionable insights and business decision-making. The CBA draws on the expertise of the Milgard School’s faculty in Accounting, Business Analytics & Operations, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing. The Center works directly with corporate partners to identify, frame and study critical business issues and opportunities. 

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SOURCE Sound Credit Union