Churchill Community High School, as well as participants in our Continuing Education and Adult Education programs, crossed the stage on a beautiful June evening to receive their diplomas. Supervisor of Adult and Alternative Education Karen Powell welcomed the attendees and their guests to the 62nd Annual Commencement Exercises and started the program with a quote from Harriet Tubman. "Every great dream begins with a dreamer," she said. "Always remember you have the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world." She reminded the students that their journey does not stop now and urged them to continue to dream and have patience and passion. She charged them to remember this day and remind themselves during times of difficulty that they are strong, patient, and passionate and that they proved that by being there at commencement.
Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Superintendent of Royal Oak Schools, congratulated the graduates next. She talked of their achievements and what it took to get to graduation. She asked the graduates to pause and think of one or two people in their life that helped them achieve graduation to the smiles of many of the graduates. She encouraged them to believe in their success and continue to see graduation as a new beginning in their lives. "Congratulations on your success and your triumphs, we wish you the very best from Royal Oak Schools," she said.
Board of Education President Deborah Anderson then accepted the class for graduation. Churchill Community High School graduates received their diplomas first, followed by the graduates of Continuing Education. Matrice Carmack spoke for the Continuing Ed Class. She said, "Many of us have taken this path for various reasons but we are here and we did it." She then challenged the young students of Churchill to start planning to win and to make a strategic plan to have their voices heard in the world.
Joy Zug, Coordinator for Adult Education, joined the stage giving a fun and moving speech to the graduates. She asked them to continue to learn and invest in their futures before handing out their diplomas. Churchill also honored students that completed their GED for the first time. Zug commented on how hard it is to do that and presented each one with a certificate.
The commencement ceremony wrapped up with a class address given by Graduate Kayla Carney. She said that at Churchill she excelled, gained more confidence, and found out she was good at math. "It really hit me that I was more capable than I let myself believe I am," she said. She praised the staff and teachers at Churchill and said she can't thank them enough for all they did.
Watch it again - Churchill Graduation: https://youtu.be/XwfoMTTtar4