Staff Writer
CARIBOU — After working toward graduation for their whole lives, eleven students of the Eastern Aroostook Alternative High School received their high school diplomas during their graduation ceremony on June 11.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Fort Fairfield graduate of the Eastern Aroostook Alternative High School Alyssa Bishop was chosen by Center Director Dan MacDonald as the recipient of the Directors Award.
“Today is a big day for all the graduates who worked so hard to reach this point in their lives, but we’re doing more today than just celebrating the completion of High School,” said center director Dan MacDonald, “today we celebrate overcoming obstacles, overcoming stereotypes and achieving set goals.”
“The graduating seniors of Alternative Education have achieved success on their own terms and with their own distinctive styles and I would like to commend them on their efforts and accomplishments,” he added.
Encouraging the students to never stop learning, graduation guest speaker Lou Willey (who taught many of the students in kindergarten and elementary school) read the students one last story.
The book was called “Fredrick” by Lio Lionni, about a mouse that was misunderstood and overlooked as a lazy dreamer by his fellow mice, but turned out to have been an unconventional yet productive member of mouse-society all along.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Student speaker Jennifer Corbin reminded the Eastern Aroostook Alternative High School graduating Class of 2010 to remember how much they had overcome in order to receive their diplomas.
“I see all of you as being a little bit of Fredrick,” Willey told the graduates after she had finished the story. “I encourage all of you to be a little bit of Fredrick as you leave and go out into the world. Work hard at what you love, find a dream and hold onto it with both hands,” she encouraged, “that dream is going to get you through when everything else seems to be a struggle, and you will find a way to get through it.”
While Willey advised the students to follow their dreams when the times get tough, Class Speaker Jennifer Corbin praised her classmates for achieving their goals despite the hardships they endured on the way to their graduation.
“ We have had more hardships than many on our quests to obtain an education; through both perseverance and determination, we have climbed the greatest of mountains to reach the highest of peaks,” she said. “Along the way we have each had our own obstacles to overcome, but we have all persisted in achieving our goals and making our dreams become reality, which is why I believe that each and every graduate that stands before us today is a true testament to the meaning of hard work and deserved success,” she added.
The graduation was preceded by a celebratory luncheon, where family and friends of the graduates celebrated their accomplishments.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Guest Speaker Lou Willey, who taught many of the graduates in kindergarten and second grade, read the graduates one last book called “Fredrick” by Lio Lionni.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
The Eastern Aroostook Alternative High School graduating Class of 2010 included, from left, Monica Beaupre, Joanne Graettinger, Alyssa Bishop, Randy Nash, Bradley Voisine, Samantha Corey, Bryant Corriveau, Keifer Holton, Glenn Bernard, Bridget McDougall and Jennifer Corbin.
