Family, friends and teachers said goodbye to 20 Union Alternative School graduates– well, rather as teacher John Malloy would say “Hasta Luego” – during today’s Block 6 graduation.
Principal Chris Ducker, who later remarked Union Alternative might need a bigger venue, congratulated all of the graduates, reading their prepared remarks, with several thanking family and teachers for helping them finish graduation two months early.
The room, which doubles as the school cafeteria, was packed with people and a second area was opened next door so participants could watch a live stream.
As Ducker read student comments, at times drawing laughter and tears, he noted how time and again, students felt supported even when things looked difficult, reminding them once again of the school’s motto: “Why give up when there’s an alternative?”
Ducker asked graduates to display their Alternative certificates on the refrigerator, worried he almost forgot to mention it. Although Alternative graduates have the option of also attending Commencement on May 20, he said the certificate and the monthly block graduates are a reminder about how students will remain forever a part of the family at Union Alternative School.
The audience was packed with exuberant family members and well-wishers, some of whom traveled across state lines to witness. High School Principal John Chargois and Board of Education members Stacey Roemerman and Joey Reyes were also in the audience. Before he read off prepared statements by each of the students, Ducker read a citation of achievement by
State House Representative Ross Ford. Each student will receive their own citation prepared by Mr. Ford, who is also a former member of the Union Board of Education.
After the ceremony, family members and friends posed with graduates for pictures.
Graduates today included Amelia Alvarado, Ryan Bain, C’Marius Brown, Lon’Davia Calloway, Kailyn Carpenter, Dylan Cochran, Kristopher Cox, Sitlaly Enriquez, Stephan Freeman, Sarah Gutierrez, Ke’Ron Hubbard, RyanHurtado, JavierJuarez, Zoe Kimbrell, Joshua Luzuriaga, Mia Miller, Dallas Strickland, D’Ante Swift, Breanna Valdovinos, and Austin Woodside.
In his prepared speech, Woodside also left this piece of advice as read by Ducker, which seemed very in the spirit of Union Alternative: “If you go to Whataburger, order a patty melt with NO ONIONS. Make sure there’s no onions on that patty melt and order a cheeseburger with only ketchup, pickles and lettuce, also NO ONIONS. Give those to (teacher) Mr. Spencer.”
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