Valley Pathways School graduation full of emotion, laughter

In contrast to some of the more boisterous graduation ceremonies that have been held at the Menard Sports Complex, Valley Pathways School graduation ceremony was modest and personal.

While “Pomp and Circumstance” was played and the graduating students walked that familiar processional, the rest of the ceremony was uniquely Valley Pathways School. What makes this graduation different is that instead of the roll call and handing out of diplomas, as is tradition with most other high schools, Valley Pathways has the advisors speak about the students they have worked with and supported before introducing the graduating seniors to the audience.

The journey many of the students made to get to graduation was echoed in student speaker Frances Ippolito, who recounted her freshman struggles with grades, who she was, and who she wanted to be.

“To say the least, I did not have it all together. I lost faith in myself and I lost motivation,” she said.

She graduated, having been accepted to UAA’s Nursing Program.

Several graduating seniors from VPS will be heading into the same program, others will enter trade schools, some have received a Mat-Su Health Foundation scholarship or have been named, and some will enter the workforce. Still other students who received their diplomas had previously met the criteria to graduate earlier in the year and our pursuing their goals.

Amid the laughter and tears at any graduation, Valley Pathways had many emotional moments, whether it was advisor Franchesca Heywood tearing up along with her students, or advisor Jeffrey Carollo smiling and joking with his graduating students.

Or the very colorful student speaker Bryce Williamson who donned a special Batman suit under his cap and gown, and as he gave a funny, spirited and honest speech complete with an escaped curse word, he spoke about entering Valley Pathways unsure of what to expect, admitting to being shy, “Regardless of how I was doing socially, I was doing great academically, as I made 1 of my first honor rolls…ever,” and admitted that a yoga class one of his teachers suggested was the catalyst to breaking out of his shyness.

And as Williamson spoke of realizing that he won’t be able to stay at VPS, “I’m 18, graduated, and most importantly, broke, and as much I love this school, it would be a little weird to hang out here. As sad as I am to leave, I have to,” and he offered parting words to the students still in school, “I hope all of you attending finish school with a cap on your head and a diploma in your hands,” before capping off his speech with a silly string attack, followed by the 41 graduates tossing their caps and stepping into their futures.