TURNER — The Maine School Administrative District 52 Adult Education annual commencement celebration was held on Friday, June 11, 2021, with 18 students who, despite the pandemic, completed their studies this year.
Razell Ward, the director of the program, welcomed the students and staff to the ceremony at Leavitt High School, as well as those attending virtually, thanking them for all their hard work during the challinging time. Ward said that some of the students and staff did not even meet face-to-face until recently.
She gave a heartfelt thank-you to the adult education staff for engaging students, and for their countless hours of hard work.
“You are all that I brag about every day, and you have also made getting through this tough time fun,” she said.
To the students, she said, “It is amazing what you have accomplished. You have learned how to be flexible, how to overcome obstacles. You have learned new technologies, and above all, you were successful in doing all of this during a global pandemic. You remained dedicated in the hardest times, and that is what makes you special, and that is what makes you shine.”
MSAD 52 Superintendent Kimberly Brandt, keynote speaker, told students, “You are at your graduation right now because you have demonstrated the most important trait a human can possess, and that is perseverance. It matters because you do not give up, and you continue to follow your dreams no matter what obstacles come your way.
“You learn from your failures, but they never define you,” Brandt said. “You are here today because you persevered and did not give up. Perseverance is a lifetime of never giving up.” Quoting Nelson Mandela, she said, “Do not judge me by my successes; judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
Graduate Brooke Thenor, the student speaker, spoke of how she left school at 16 because she was pregnant, and worked as a certified nursing assistant until she was 22. When employers started requiring a diploma, she had to stop working. “After years of being a stay-at-home mom with four children, I realized that I wanted better for myself, and I wanted my kids to see me do better things,” she said.
Thenor earned a HiSET certificate, the high school equivelancy diploma. She thanked everyone for helping her along the way.
National Adult Education Honor Society inductees for 2021 are Isaiah Bowmaster, Gabrielle Castonguay, Tina Cote, Savannah Harris, Brooke Thenor and Mohamed Mohamed. Inductees were recognized with pins and certificates. The annual Hail Mary MARY Award, presented to a student who enters the program in the last two months and completes in time for graduation, went to Gabrielle Castonguay for finishing the HiSET requirements in only a few weeks.
Teacher Melanie North presented HiSET highest scoring awards to Hannah McNeil, Isaiah Bowmaster, and Raimi Colbert. HiSET Honors scores ranged from 92 to 96 (out of 100), and all HiSET Honors students earned College Ready scores in each subject area.
The Winston Award was presented to TIna Cote, for never giving up on her goal of high school completion.
The Central Maine Community College Courage to Grow Award was presented to Mohamed Mohamed for his perseverance and dedication to his academic pursuits. This scholarship award includes a free college course of his choosing to continue with his education.
