Diplomas have special value for 10 adult ed graduates

FALLS VILLAGE — All graduation ceremonies are special or meaningful to the families who participate in them, but the annual adult education graduation at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) is particularly moving. The young men and women who receive their diplomas — in a ceremony that is both short and sweet — have struggled against heavier-than-normal odds to achieve one of the most important milestones in American culture.

This year’s graduation ceremony was held in the high school auditorium on Thursday, May 28. Ten students  successfully completed the program; eight attended the ceremony, in traditional caps and gowns.

Some of the graduates were quite young, about the same age as the men and women who will graduate from the regular high school program on June 19. And, as always, there were one or two students who had returned to high school after several years outside the system. One such graduate is Sheri Silvernail, mother of three, and the wife of George Silvernail — who graduated from the adult education program himself in 2002.

At that time, his youngest daughter, Abigail, was a tot. She ran up to hug her father after he received his diploma, her tiny pigtails bouncing exuberantly behind her.

This year, Abigail and her two sisters cheered their mother on as she received her diploma as well as three awards: for excellence in U.S. history, excellence in English and oustanding effort and achievement.

“She’s amazing,� her husband said after the ceremony. In addition to working and doing her schoolwork, “she always had dinner on the table for us before she went to class.�

When asked if he encouraged her in her studies, he said, “She had her mind made up that she was going to do this,� then added, “I think the kids gave her the most encouragement to keep going.�

The adult diploma program was created 14 years ago by Frank Ruotolo (who retired last August as its director) and former HVRHS Principal Kathleen Burkhart. Classes are held at night at the Falls Village high school but are a program of the Foothills Adult and Continuing Education program of Education Connection, which is in Litchfield.

The program offers continuing education classes in everything from first aid to computer programming to cooking; GED classes and English as a second language; and the adult diploma classes, for students who were not able to continue in the regular high school program.

This year was Thomas Schindler’s first as site coordinator for the program, a job that not only entails arranging for classes and teachers but also offering support to students who find school difficult to start with — and who are making time to take classes when they often have full-time jobs and sometimes families to care for as well.

“Well, you did it,� he told the graduates after they’d received their diplomas and awards and completed the traditional “turning of the tassels� on their graduation mortarboards.

“You’re now full-fledged high school graduates, and that’s the bottom line,� he said, an announcement that was greeted with loud applause from audience and graduates alike, and several hearty shouts of “Wu-hoo!�

Many of the students, he noted, do not have happy memories of their school years.

But, he said, “of all  the academic memories of the past, let us relish the thoughts of this victory, and build on them. Remember that you attained this success through an alternate route. May you find your own path in life and trust the process.â€�

Region One Assistant Superintendent Diane Goncalves told the graduates to “take a moment to congratulate yourselves. But also take a moment to think of the people who supported and encouraged you. As you go through life, remember to be that person for someone else, to reach out and give a helping hand.�

Music for the ceremony was provided by the Housatonic Valley Regional High School brass ensemble, with the school’s music teacher, Thomas Krupa. Students Rebecca Sawicki and Kara Riley sang a duet from the musical “Miss Saigon.�

Diplomas were presented by Region One Board of Education Chairman Judge Manning.

A reception followed the ceremony, with cake provided by the region’s central office and flowers provided by the agriculture education department.

The 2009 graduates are Leland N. Bennett, Eric H. Findley, Bret M. Gardner, Adam W. Gornie, Bryan C. McBreairty, Shanna H. Miller-Robinson, Ben J. Morgan, John B. Ricciardelli, Sheri L. Silvernail and Chaz N. Unite.

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