PI Academy graduates 21

Twenty-one graduates from Presque Isle Academy (PIA) celebrated their commencement ceremony last Thursday at Millersburg Elementary School.

Principal Rick Bongard welcomed everyone to the ceremony, thanking his board of directors and teachers before addressing the graduates with a moving speech. Bongard reminded the students and the large crowd that only about half of the students who attend PIA complete graduation requirements and earn their diplomas. He encouraged the students to be proud of what they accomplished, ?You have had plenty of opportunities to quit. But decided to finish what you started. What an achievement!? said Bongard.

Graduates from PIA aren?t your typical high school graduates, they are students who were unable to excel in a regular high school setting, for various reasons. ?Your diploma is not a testament to great knowledge, high test scores, doing what you were told or getting your work done on time. However you did finish what you started and your diploma is a tribute to your perseverance. Learning how to persevere is a lot more important than mastery of high school subject matter. Having the ability to ?stick it out? will get you further in life than anything else. All high school graduates have this in common, but it was harder for you, you had roadblocks to fight through. You made it, and for that you should be very proud,? said Bongard.

After a very moving speech Bongard finished by wishing the graduates the best of luck and encouraging them to always learn as much as they can and never quit no matter what they chose to do in life.

Following Principal Bongard?s speech and welcome, three students spoke. Alesha Royster, a young mother who accepted the responsibility of adulthood, found employment and finished high school, was first up. Royster lived in six different foster homes and one residential placement, became pregnant at 13 but worked hard to finish school while working and raising her daughter.

Chris Cole spoke about how much PIA has meant to him, and how much he appreciated the crowd gathering to share the special evening with the graduates. ?Personally, I am extremely glad PIA was here for me, because if it wasn?t, I would have dropped out of school. I a very proud to say that tonight, because of the PIA, I am the first member of my family to have earned a high school diploma,? said Cole.

?PIA has affected all of us differently, but when it all comes down to it, each of us has changed for the better. School was always difficult for me until I started attending PIA. Each teacher showed his or her interest in seeing us excel. From sitting with each of us one on one to class projects and field trips, they taught us to work as a team. Mr. B and the teachers acknowledged each of our feelings and treated us as individuals. I started attending PIA after my father passed away. I was made to feel comfortable and not like an outsider. Everyone welcomed me not just as a student, but also as a friend. Within my first year of attending PIA my Mom also passed

away. Everyone helped me through the grieving process. With both of my parents gone I was more dedicated and more determined to graduate from high school and to do well,? said Sharon Schaff, the third and final student speaker.

Dr. Stan Delidow was the guest speaker and he spoke to the students about a variety of things, how high schools can some times hurt students, because they don?t allow for much flexibility. Students are made to feel inferior when in reality they may be brighter than their peers. He gave the students praise for accomplishing what they have and wished them good luck in the future.

The students then lined up to take their walk across the stage as their names were announced, receiving their diplomas before having the opportunity to turn their tassels and begin a new chapter in their lives, whatever that might be.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.