Alternative education graduates celebrate an amazing journey

Alternative education graduates celebrated an “amazing” journey at their commencement ceremonies - one the speakers encouraged them to continue in the next chapter of their lives.

“This journey has been amazing and graduation is not just receiving a diploma but it is the end and beginning of a new chapter in life,” said AdvancePath Academy student speaker D’Liyah English. “Never give up on your dreams and fight to get to the end. If you are willing to work hard and take on the obstacles thrown in your way, you can be successful in any path that you take.”

Her words were echoed by Adult Education speaker Clinton Brooks.

“Never give up on yourself, even when others won’t give you the time of day,” said Brooks. “If there’s anything you want out of life you have to work hard to achieve it.”

More than 120 students graduated last Thursday from AdvancePath Academy, Utica Learning Academy and UCS Adult Education.

Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns honored the graduates for their perseverance “through challenges that would be insurmountable for most others their age.”

Dr. Johns said: “The determination you have shown to get to this point will serve you well as you move onto the next stage of your life.”

Board of Education Vice President Gene Klida told the graduates their Utica Community Schools background makes each “unquestionably ready for the choices you will have going forward.”

Students graduating at the ceremony are:

Adult Education
Bashar Al-Gorges
Hadeel Banoucha
Clinton Willie Brooks
Lina Enwiya-Toma
Danielle Marie Groppi
Daniel Robert Guerrero
Febi Younus Hirmiz
Donna Jean Holloway
Narmin Jawdat
Frank Juncaj
Saimon Alshamas Mati
Raghad Mikha
Cesar Orozco
Sandy Saleem
Maria Adelina Serra
Neil Nadeem Yaldo
Merna Yousif

Utica Learning Academy
Ahmed Alam
Cameron Marie Aleck
Katreena Bahnam
Alecia Marie Bakeman
Kaylee A. Bell
Danielle Bobchick
Tyler David Brusseau
Silvia Saad Cholagh
Alexanadria Katelynn Claveau
Andrew Cox*
Austin James Dahl
Andrew A. Di Felice
Damien Dye
Nicholas W. Gattie
Eric Dawan Goode-Slappey
Austin Thaier Gorges
Alisha Ann Haring
Ndue Hasanaj
Skylar Marie Hill
Jared Joseph Irwin
Martin Ivezaj
Emily Anne Jacob
Vincent Kethman
Brittneey Morgan LaPyrne
Kiana Jade Merriwether
Valentina Milicaj*
Steven J. Muraf-Grondy
Alec C. Nieman
Kathryn Rose Nitkowski
Joshua Alexander Nowak
Kourtney Katherine-Colleen O’Toole
Marissa Kay Palitti
Samantha Renee Pitts
Nicole A. Price
Chad Alan Pritchard
Monica Rose Reichenbach*
Mayra T. Rodriguez Lopez
Ryan Matthew Roll*
Star Sadik
Bartlomiej M. Sadowicz
Andrew G. Salem
Dominic Mairza Shamoon
Maya Liberty Lynn Simmons
Katarzyna Szynal
Kyle James Tandy
Shpresa Thaqi
James Albert Thomas
Kristian Topalli
Leo King Ulch
Shaley Lynne VanDenBrouck
Dylan Michael Wheeler
Shelby A. Wrobel
Codey M. Young

AdvancePath Academy
Sara Abbott*
Christian L. Adkins
Jesse L. Adkins
Dominic M. Aiuto
Sofia D. Arvanitis
Alfredo Aviles
Jordan E. Brooks-De Smet
Alyssa K. Broome
Anika Farhana Chowdhury
Tessa Church
Eric Cockream Jr.
Autumn Fayth Cunningham
Nathaniel Bernard Dezinski*
Emily Ann Domanski
Kayla Michelle Donnelly
Jonathan Adam Dycus
D’Liyah Mariah English*
Richard Robert Feeley Jr.
Kayla Marie Forthoffer
Austin Fritch*
Damien Charles Gilbert
Krista Lynn Glebosky*
Donivan H. Goga
Darylmakia D. Goodlow
Emily M. Gratowski
Jacob Sam Jackson
Nataly Kakoz*
Vincent Kiriakoza
Joshua Kopaczeski*
Eric Andrew Lionte
Patrick Matthew
Jerel Lamar McPhearson Jr.*
William N. Meffer III
Brendan Matthew Angeles Mendoza
Ethan Jon Mitchell*
Bradley D. Paquette
James M. Pavlik Jr.
Lavette T. Phillips*
Elisabeth Kristina Pollard
Lisa Marie Rinke
Sherene A. Scott-Levert*
Brandon Styers*
Mitchell Wesley Todd
Jared E. Underwood
Jacob VanLiew
Sha’Toria Denise West
Danny Ray Wheatley
Ashley Aurelia Wilson
Austin Wright
Christopher Zefic

*Honor Cords (3.3 or higher GPA)