Twenty-two adult-education students wearing different colored caps and gowns graduated Wednesday night at Lancaster High School.They represented 22 different ways to get to their destination.
Holding up a cell phone during his speech, keynote speaker Rev. AnThony Pelham told the graduates, “Without an address, GPS is no good.”
These adult graduates definitely had this destination dialed in, and it
led them through life’s backroads and detours. For some, the journey
took a few months. For others, a few years.Before the ceremony, Adult Education Director Kim Linton said, “Life happens, and they made a decision to change their lives and complete this part.”
“They are exceptional for making a decision to come back and for pushing themselves and striving to get to this point,” she said.
The graduates received many hugs and handshakes, and it was hard to distinguish between family and adult-ed staff during the celebration. The night was about collaboration and the value of community support.
As Pelham said after the ceremony, “This is such a heartwarming moment for me. Jykevius Hayden, one of the young men we work with at Community Powerhouse, is here graduating. It shows what collaboration can do.
“No one holds all the pieces, but when we each contribute our part, this is what happens,” Pelham said.
Renee Cooper, 47, had this night in sight for 10 years. Cooper received a diploma through adult education and South Carolina virtual high school. Cooper said she is heading to nursing school.
Raylee Caskey, 19, overcame more diversity and heartbreak than most adults twice her age. Both her parents and grandfather died in the past six years. She became a mother this past March. She lives with her grandmother, Terry Veal.
Caskey was supposed to graduate from high school in May 2015, and despite the challenges she earned her high school diploma through adult education just seven months later. And Wednesday night, she marched across the stage as her grandmother held her baby in the audience.
“It’s a miracle that this has happened. It could have gone the other way so easily. She could have given up. All of us could have. But we keep going. The Lord has kept us strong,” Veal said, choking back tears.
Veal said she has big hopes for her granddaughter. “Sometimes we look at each other and ask, ‘Are we really still sitting up after all that has happened?’ We are. And we are going to make it,” Veal said.
Both looked at Caskey’s 2-month-old son, Kason, and Caskey said, “He is the reason I keep going.”
Graduate Joseph Coleman, 19, said he took the day off to graduate, but
he was pretty sure Home Depot didn’t mind. Coleman said vision problems
prevented him from keeping up with his studies at Andrew Jackson High
School.“I came here, and now three years later, I’m graduating,” Coleman said.
Graduate Linda Tinney stood nervously while Kathryn Tiller adjusted her cap and tassel.
“I have been working on this for a really long time. I am in my early 30s now. I dropped out when I was 17. Without Mrs. Tiller, I would not have made it through,” Tinney said.
Educator Kathryn Tiller said Tinney deserves all the credit for her hard work. Tiller said she called Tinney after receiving her test results this past December.
“After she told me,” Tinney said, “I was whooping and hollering, and people looked at me like I was crazy.”
While most students enjoyed a few months knowing they would march Wednesday night, Alex Hall, 18, had less than six hours to enjoy the anticipation.
“I found out at 1:05 today. I can’t even put this into words yet,” Hall said. “I have been working on this for a year and a half.”
Hall said he dropped out of Buford High School because a learning disability made it hard to focus.
Adult-ed teachers surrounded Hall as he put on his cap and gown. Struggling with the collar of his gold and burgundy gown, he asked Tiller how to wear it. She said, “With pride, Alex. With pride.”
The entire staff celebrated when the email came in six hours earlier that Hall had passed.
“We didn’t even print the programs until after we heard he passed his test,” adult education administrative assistant Kay Atkinson said.
Hall’s plans include attending USCL to study medicine, business management or engineering. Hall said he already has two semesters paid for in advance through assistance from YouthBuild, part of Communities in Schools.
After the ceremony, Communities in Schools Executive Director Reggie Lowery was outside in the courtyard standing next to Hall, arm extended with cell phone in hand, taking a selfie.
“Alex is one of the hardest-working young men we have, and he never complains,” Lowery said.
Linton told the graduates just before handing them their GEDs, “This is the beginning of your destiny. This is not the end. This is just the first step in the next phase of your life.”
Pelham told the grads that their GED, General Education Diploma, was worth as much as a high school diploma and was “the same key, just a different color. Both unlock the same doors.”
He told a parable about a farmer’s mule that had fallen into an old dry well. Unable to get the mule out of the well, the farmer decided to throw dirt on top of the mule. As he began shoveling, the mule began to panic.
After a few shovels of dirt hit his back, the mule decided to shake it off and step up. As more shovels of dirt rained down, he did just that. Finally, battered and bruised, the mule stepped out of the well.
“What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him, all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity,” Pelham said.
“Shake it off and step up to the criticism and adversity you will face,” Pelham said as he ended his speech.
The 2016-17 adult-education graduating class had 49 members. Less than half chose to march, but with the blessing of long-time adult-education teacher, Pat Threatt, each one was celebrated with applause.
“We are not going to tell you to hold your applause. We are inviting you to applaud. Please give each graduate applause, not just yours,” Threatt said.
The audience did just that. Each graduate received a loud tribute.
2015-16 Adult Education Graduates
Xavier Avery
Jasmine Blair
Kirkland Boykin
Danielle Cabrera
Veronica Campos
Raylee Caskey*
Carl Cole
Joseph Coleman
Meghan Collins*
Renee Cooper*
Tyler Demby
Raekwan Evans
Samantha Frank
Sarah Haile
Alex Hall
Richard Hammond
Jykevius Hayden
Hannah Helms*
James Hilliard
Jamisha Hood
Jennifer Hopkins
Trey Jett
Shane Laney*
April McClain*
Kendyle McClain*
Jeffrey Miles
Kerry Miller*
Kevin Miller*
Shakerai Miller
Bradley Missildine
McKenzie Ormand
Alston Osborne
Juan Palacious
Mariah Patrick
Baylee Popoff
Briana Richards
Larry Robinson*
Jason Roddey
Allison Shehane
Kristin Shurley
Dennis Shropshire*
Kevin Smith
Dusty Wayne Snipes
James Snipes III
Alexandria Starnes
Kayce Sutton
Linda Tinney
Phillip Tucker
Marissa Whitslar
* denotes High School Diploma
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