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Health & Fitness

UCS Alternative education graduates celebrate perseverance

AdvancePath, Utica Learning Academy and Adult Education programs graduate their Class of 2012

Graduates from the Utica Community Schools alternative education programs celebrated a night of perseverance at commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2012.

"Now, standing here in front of you tonight, I learned that I can accomplish great things," said commencement speaker Stephanie Kotynia, a 2012 Utica Learning Academy graduate who plans to have a career in nursing.

AdvancePath Academy, the Utica Learning Academy, and Adult Education programs graduated 127 seniors at ceremonies held June 7 at Stevenson High School.

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The student speakers at the event - Kotynia, Matt Ross, of AdvancePath Academy and Joyce Chavious of Adult Education - talked about the commitment, motivation and preservence needed to finish high schools for students in alternative education programs.

"My advice to everyone here tonight to is continue to seek your opportunity to learn," said Chavious, who is earning her degree in at more than 50 years of age. "It is never too late."

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Timothy Youngblood, AdvancePath Administrator, said the students receiving diplomas "have learned something that can't be taught in book and will serve them well in life."

Members of the Class of 2012 for the AdvancePath Academy, Utica Learning Academy and Adult Education:

Abu-Shaar, Matthew                                                              
Adkins, Austin                                                                                   
Albrecht, Jared                                                                                  
Alsobrooks IV, George                                                          
Armstrong, Candice                                                                
Arnone, Anthony                                                                   
Asmar, Ashley                                                                        
Aziz, Samem                                                                          
Barterian, Vincent                                                                  
Bennett, Precious                                                                   
Bermudez, Laura                                                                    
Bond, Ryan                                                                             
Bourque, John Paul                                                                
Brikho, Dillon                                                                        
Bugbee, Dayna                                                                                   
Cacaj, Jessica                                                                          
Calabro, Josephn                                                                    
Camaj, Anton                                                                         
Casey, David                                                                          
Chavious, Joyce                                                                      
Chludzinski, Victoria                                                              
Churchill, Amanda                                                                 
Cleland, Michael                                                                    
Collier, Kyle                                                                           
Covington, Jordan                                                                 
Cox, Aaron                                                                             
Cunningham, Adam                                                                
D’Agostino, Brian                                                                  
Dedivanaj, Martin                                                                  
Dennis, Denae                                                                        
Dew-Davis, Armand                                                              
Donnelly, Ashley                                                                    
Dubay, Kurt                                                                           
Dunbar, Corey                                                                        
Durante, Kevin                                                                      
Elias, Anthony                                                                                   
Ellis, Alyssa                                                                            
Feuquay, Shalina                                                                    
Finnie, DaJuan                                                                                   
Geml, Kristin                                                                         
Genova, Brandon                                                                   
Gipson, Gabriel                                                                      
Gjelaj, Linda                                                                          
Gorecki, Shelley                                                                   
Grund, Trevor
Guiffre, Christina
Hampton, Megan
Hanna, Maryam
Hanna, Parish
Hansen, Maya
Harding, Christopher
Hargrove, Myron
Harris, Trevor
Hartley, Cory
Haxhiu, Dritan      
Heick, Morgan
Hill, Thomas
Hoppe, Adam
Hughes, Christopher
Ivezaj, Gjon
Keillor, Christin
Kelly, Ashley                          
Khalaf, Suzan
Kotynia, Stephanie
Kraus, John
Krawiecki, Alex
Kryger, Michael
Lafata, Bryan
Lafata, Brett
Langstaff, Catherine
Lansky, Nathan
Lathrum, Cory
Ledesma, Kimberly
Lientz, Mackenzie
Lindroth, Ryan
Litten, Stacey
Littman, Alexandria
Lucido, Katelyn
Lynch, Katelyn
Makled, Kayla
Malin, Tara
Malyne, Vyane
Maybee, Anthony
McClendon, Mackenzie
Megge, Samantha
Melakuqi, Kristjana
Messina, Marie
Mezin, Dennis
Middleton III, Larry
Moore, Lucas
Moore, Xavier
Munafo, Justin
Murphy, Sara
Myronchuk, Audriy
Nahas, Bryan
Nepsey, Alesia
Norris, Dylan
Okey, Ebele
Palushaj, Linda
Parmentier, Cody
Patterson, Robert
Pickard, Tyler
Pijanowski, Emily
Prall, Emily
Preston, Candace
Roberts, Freddie
Ross, Matthew
Royer, Stephen
St. Onge, Nicholas
Schmidt, Jordan
Schulz, Christopher
Scoggins, Emily
Sears, Christopher
Shamon, Jack
Sias, John
Sitto, Savaan
Sobolewski, Devan
Sparks, Daniel
Stanek, Danielle
Starkey, Alesia
Sullivan, Austin
Swalec, Chelsea
Swinyer, Kevin
Szczepanik, Konrad
Tapia, Ubaldo
Thomas, Samiyyah
Trejo Jr. Daniel
Weakland, Jacob
Wheeler Jr., ReceAbu-Shaar, Matthew                                                              

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