Burchell grads ready to face the world

May 22, 2007

By Hannah Guillaume/Frontiersman

WASILLA - Students whose life paths took a few extra turns early on proved that they, too, can make it on the straight and narrow.

Burchell High School, an alternative school program with night school and licensed day care, had 68 students march in line to its 2007 graduation podium at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex on Monday night.

&#8220It was almost like trying to wrestle a Klingon,” said Craig Beairsto, of the road to graduation.

Beairsto was one of six voluntary graduating speakers who talked to a crowd of more than 500 friends and family.

&#8220We all have to leave high school,” he said, addressing his classmates. &#8220Get to work, hippies.”

Many of the graduates raised children, worked multiple jobs and volunteered during their time at Burchell. Deanna Elkins, 18, from Wasilla, began attending Burchell in 2005 after she had her daughter Deanndra, 2.

Last year, she had her second child, Jace, and said she was partly able to graduate because of the school's day-care program. She said the school's programs made the environment feel less like a high school and more like a family. It gave her the respect she needed to earn her diploma.

&#8220You kind of develop a relationship here with everyone,” Elkins said, before marching up the aisle with her babies in both arms. &#8220It's sad to go, but it's good to go.”

She said she plans to study business at Mat-Su College in the fall.

Tony Tyree, 18, from Wasilla, said he went to Burchell in April 2005 after having troubles with his teachers at Wasilla High School.

&#8220I had to take care of my dad, and I missed a lot of school,” he said. &#8220I'm the first one out of my family to graduate: mom, dad, aunts and uncles. It feels like $1 million in my hands.”

His father died from kidney cancer in 2005.

Tyree said when he started attending classes at Burchell he stopped getting into trouble and could focus on graduation. He plans to attend Tulsa Welding School in Oklahoma.

Jonathan Ham, 19, from Wasilla, said his graduation dispelled myths he had heard about Burchell.

&#8220People say it's the easy way out, and I worked harder here than I ever did at Colony,” he said. &#8220Don't judge a book by its cover. The diversity here is better than anywhere else in the Valley.”

Before going to Burchell in 2005, Ham said he struggled at Colony High School, because the teachers were too strict. He said after he started attending Burchell he stopped getting into trouble. He plans to join the Air Force.

Deidra Horton, 19, from Anchorage, said she transferred to Burchell in April when she didn't have anywhere to stay while she was finishing school at West High School in Anchorage.

&#8220This is the best thing I could have done. I like it better out here,” she said. &#8220The most I learned is that nobody is going to help you unless you ask them.”

And even then, she added, it's a lot of work.

&#8220You need to want it,” Horton said.

Eight students earned nine college scholarships, including seven $11,000 University of Alaska scholarships. The UA scholars are: Kaz Alvarez, Trisha Hardwick, Leanna Jagger, Charles Lowe, Efrasia Martushev, Cory Trudeau and Edward Zudell-Powell.

Contact Hannah Guillaume at 352-2250 or by e-mail at hannahguillaume@yahoo.com.

Burchell High School

Class of 2007

Ruvim Aleksandrovich Abaras, Kaz Alvarez, Craig A. Beairsto, Desiree Audrianna Beck, Brandy Bird, Jared Hunter Bishop, Kenneth O. Clark, Michael Jeffery Cloud, David D. I. Coon, Holley Marie Cunningham, Winter Rose Daly, Trent Darling, Mischa deGuia, Justin William Dorsey, Deanna Jean Elkins, Joseph Erie, Nichole Suzanne Gavac, Theodore Gilmore, Jonathan N. Ham, Kyle Hamblen, Cara Michelle Harding, Trisha Lynn Hardwick, Shannon Haynes, Erin Henderson, Jesse Hill, Terence D. Hines, Sierra Holzworth-Parker, Deidra Horton, Leanna Jagger, Destiny Jaime, Deilah Rose Johnson, Jared S. Johnson, Olga Kojin, Mikala Lewis, Charles Ralph Lowe, Efrasia A. Martushev, Jacqueline McComb, Alyssa Ann Meader, Neil Meehan, Aurora Morrison, Jeremy Mothershead, Whitney B. Parker, Heidi Pearce, Rae Perkins, Shawna Pittsenbarger, Michael D. Ponte, Christopher R. Prater, Jack Sieler, Kelly Grace Smith, Nathan Smith, Kaitlyn A. Tidd, Clinton Thornhill, Heather Tomkins, Mary Transki, Cory Trudeau, Tony Tyree Jr., Rory Vail, Alex VanMeter, Chelsey Veytia, Kristina Marie Whetham, James E. Williams Jr., Dana J. Wilson, Topaz Wintch, Tiffany W. Wolf, Angela Yates, Edward A. Zudell-Powell.