WORTHINGTON — Well-wishers, friends and family gathered to rejoice and celebrate the accomplishments of the Learning Center class of 2023 Thursday, in a commencement ceremony that recognized each of the 33 graduates individually and as a group.
Gratefulness, hard work and dedication came up repeatedly through the evening.
Student speaker Esmeralda Solis offered thanks to multiple people during her speech, beginning with her fellow students, and including all of the Learning Center staff, as well as her parents.
“To the class of 2023, I would like to start out saying thank you for this amazing year. I would like to tell you all from this moment on, your future will depend on all the decisions that you make once you walk out of this door,” Solis said. “A lot of us have set plans, or don’t have any plans at all, but let me tell you, anything you put your mind to, you can achieve.
“Look at where you are — that’s sitting in your ceremony,” she added. “So that’s real life, what you can do.”
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Solis called for applause for the many people who helped her and her classmates along the way, and the audience happily obliged each time, with genuine enthusiasm.
One of those thank-yous was for fellow student and graduate Tiffany Godinez.
“At the moment, I would like to recognize my friend Tiffany. This year, we became best friends, and unfortunately she could not be here with us today, and I know how much this meant to her,” Solis said, asking the crowd for a moment of applause “because I know this will be such a special moment for her.”
She finished her speech with a Biblical quotation from 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Prior to Solis’ speech, LC Principal Dakota Lawrence welcomed the crowd and offered an introduction to the ceremony — also beginning with thanks.
“Thank you graduates, for your years of hard work, and making this year amazing. You did it. You all accomplished one major milestone in your life — high school graduation,” he said. “This is a major step in the journey of your life, one that should be recognized for its significance.”
After Lawrence spoke, several teachers gathered at the podium for the most unusual element of the Learning Center graduation ceremony. Because the school is smaller than most, its graduating class is small, and it is easier for each student to develop relationships with school staff.
For graduation, the LC staff as a group compiled thoughts about each individual student and all were shared during commencement by a few of the teachers.
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“Ciara Aguero. She is a careful thinker who always takes time to understand, a very creative and smart young lady that has excelled in art,” said Sherri Harder, business teacher, who took turns reading the compilation along with math teacher Austin Smith and Lindsay Jenniges, who works at Worthington High School. “Ciara can always be counted on to do what is right. She has shown so much growth in the last couple of years — so glad to see you’re graduating today.”
Every student had a moment in the sun, and the audience learned about their gifts, their quirks and occasionally, the struggles they overcame to graduate.
“Joseph Batres. Joseph is a hard worker and he always wants to do a good job. I’ll miss hearing him play the guitar in my room,” one description stated. “Joseph was one of our students that took time for service learning and he served in this school. We can’t wait to see him continue to be successful as he continues his education.”
Godinez may have been absent from the ceremony, but the teachers still spoke about her accomplishments, and her plans to become a teacher.
“Tiffany couldn’t be with us today because she has a family emergency and had to go out of the country to be with her family. She is an amazing young lady that is always cheerful and kind. She is a leader with a positive outlook,” Harder said. “She will be attending Bemidji State to become a teacher. It was fun having her mentor the last two years … they will miss when she brings snacks in there to share as well. Tiffany is an awesome role model to all, and she will continue to make the world a better place.”
At the end of the ceremony, each student received a diploma and a flower from members of the District 518 Board of Education. Superintendent John Landgaard flipped the tassel on each graduation cap to the other side and the crowd cheered for every graduate in turn.
Eventually, students carefully tossed their caps into the air as commencement drew to a close, with abundant tears, smiles, hugs, praise and thanks among the newly-minted grads and the crowd.
Students who graduated in the Learning Center on Thursday, May 25, 2023, were: Ciara Aguero, Maria Almanza Hurtado, Katherine Barralaga, Joseph Batres, Brandon Boltjes, Martha Bravo, Jose Castillo Castillo, Julio Chavez Solis, Betsabe Cisneros, Badume Eshima, Esthefany Escobar, Kevin Galeano, Tiffany Godinez, Milton Gomez Sis, Laura Hernandez, Arianna Jurgensen, Johira Lopez Morales, Emily Marroquin Tema, Santa Martin Lopez, Lorenzo Mateo Xicay, Jennifer Morales Perez, Say Moo, Asha Oshala, Luis Pineda Mejia, Analis Ramirez, Ivis Reyes Miranda, Keyri Rodriguez Sanchez, William Schieck, Adam Smith, Esmeralda Solis, Kee Thaw, Karen Valle Martinez, and Daymond Xaypantho.
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Learning Center Graduation 2023 by the Globe on Scribd
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