LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Community School for Adults’ Class of 2012 graduation was a very special event, said Kaua‘i Complex Area Superintendent William Arakaki Tuesday night at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. Arakaki said the graduating class of 2012
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Community School for Adults’ Class of 2012 graduation was a very special event, said Kaua‘i Complex Area Superintendent William Arakaki Tuesday night at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.
Arakaki said the graduating class of 2012 might be the last class for the Kaua‘i Community School for Adults. The program for competency-based high school diploma, while continuing to exist with the administration handled on O‘ahu, twill have no offices as the students know it now.
Lisa McDonald, a Kaua‘i District school renewal specialist, was the administrator-in-charge with Iris Mano‘i and Mavis Sueyasu handling the office. Elyson Perry was the registrar and Gordon Shibao was the diploma program coordinator. Claudia Dresser served as the literacy coordinator and Maurice Nakahara and Eugene Uegawa, a former principal of the Kaua‘i Community School for Adults, were substitutes.
Instructors who received acknowledgement for their work in helping the graduates include Andrea Bell, Jean McEntee, Ray Paler, Ray Carvalho, Oriente Naka‘ahiki and Shibao.
“This is the biggest graduating class yet,” Shibao said. “We have about 110 graduates qualifying for the high school diploma and more than 60 of them are participating in the graduation. This is the highest number to date.”
Arakaki said each of the graduates have their own story, come from a wide range of cultures, ethnic backgrounds, but they made the journey of sacrifice and commitment to attain the knowledge of lifelong learning.
Nancy Budd, the Kaua‘i representative to the Board of Education, said the program will survive these challenging times, but congratulated the graduates on achieving the good education needed to give them the capacity to learn what needs to be learned.
Graduating student speakers spoke of dropping out of middle and high schools, opening their eyes and finally taking the steps needed to bring them to graduation.
“When I saw my classmates during graduation, I thought of my parents and how proud they would have been of me,” said Victoria Pu‘ulei.
“When my son was born, I decided to come back to school as a lesson to my son to never give up.
It took the About Face program to help my decision and I plan to go to college to give my son whatever he needs.”
Gwen Wenio said getting her high school diploma was the greatest gift she gave herself . Eseneiaso Tarin, speaking for her husband Jhonny, said she was proud of Jhonny for going back to school to better life for his family.
“I kind of like law enforcement,” Jhonny said. “A police officer makes enough so my family would be more than comfortable.
Now that I have my high school diploma, I can see if one day I might become a police officer.”
James Prem, triggering rousing applause from the audience, which nearly filled the convention hall, said there were times while in classes that things were so hard he wanted to quit, but stuck it out because of the encouragement from his supporters and the teachers.
“I was too cool for school,” he said when he dropped out of school at age 16. “Tonight is cool!”
Diplomas were distributed to the graduates, including the nine students who will fulfill their graduation requirements during the month of June, by Arakaki, Budd and Al Castillo, representing Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr, with the diploma roll call being handled by student masters of ceremony, Harley and Jacob Ness.
Tawna Soltysik did the honors of the national and state anthems before the colors presented by the Kapa‘a High School Jr. ROTC saber and color units and the accompanying music provided by Nina Saraos on piano.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
