A Small Class, But a Very Big Night

The Stonington Adult Education Class of 2013 is a proud group of young people.

At once diverse and yet so similar in that they each faced their own unique set of challenges that prevented them from seeking the mainstream route to graduation. But as program coordinator Mary Sue Weaver said at their commencement ceremony Wednesday night, they all “took a risk” in deciding to go the non-traditional route to a high school diploma. And for myriad reasons.

“It was not easy. It was not convenient but you each took control of your future,” she told the seven graduates.

With diplomas in hand and eyes on their respective futures graduates Patrick Lewis Everett, Danielle Renee O'Keefe, Harold Littlechief Northup, Tayla Faith Northup, Carlos Jesus Pesante, Caylee Paige Wickes and Jonhathan Gardiner were all smiles. Everett hopes to study audio engineering. Pesante plans to go to college as do several of the other graduates. Some are undecided but nonetheless focused on, as one said "big next steps."

Also graduating but not at the ceremony was Olivia N. Bell.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Van Riley, Stonington School Board chairperson Gail MacDonald as well as board members Alisa Morrison, Deborah Downie and Faith Leitner attended the intimate ceremony. Also in attendance was Stonington First Selectman Edward Haberek and dozens of family members.

Perhaps the most moving moment was one graduate and class speaker O’Keefe talked about her journey to earning her diploma and her hope that her baby daughter would one day be “proud of me.”

The ceremony also saw honored the accomplishments of members of the English for Speakers of Other Languages class: Blanca Alicia Algarate, Bouakhay Amkhamavong, Phichada Gatchek, Maximiliano Loyola and Syed Mohsin and the students of the American Citizenship class:  Amkhamavong, Loyola and Mohsin.