CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Studies show one of every four students in West Virginia will never earn their high school diploma.

A very special guest joined forces with The Education Alliance Wednesday to try and change that.

Former First Lady Laura Bush spoke to the group in Charleston.

Mrs. Bush praised the alliance's goal of preparing every student for college or a career upon graduation.

"She's dedicated her life to seeing to it that students get a good education, public and private, and that they're prepared to go on to college or work," Howard Seufer with The Education Alliance said. "To have Mrs. Bush here places a bright of a light as we can on the focus of The Education Alliance."

Mrs. Bush currently serves as the UN Ambassador for the decade of literacy.