Administrators, staff, school board members, families, and friends cheered on adult graduates from across LaPorte County as they gathered at the Holdcraft Performing Arts Center in Michigan City on Wednesday, May 29, to celebrate the achievement of an important milestone: a high school diploma.
Thirty-one of the eighty adults who had earned High School Equivalency diplomas during the 2023-24 school year opted to participate in the ceremony.
Keynote speaker Marty Corley, the Michigan City Area Schools Board President, shared with the graduates “Anyway,” a poem by Mother Teresa, and provided four key points to remember: 1. Respect yourself and treat others how you want to be treated. 2. Set goals and plan steps to achieve those goals. 3. Evaluate your ups and downs every day; think about what you have done and how you can do it better. 4. Stress will happen, but enjoy your life.
Student speakers at the ceremony included graduates Alivia Duncan, Ashley Persley, and Jeremy Wolfenbarger, who all shared testimonials and words of encouragement, while Keron Howard surprised the crowd with a vocal performance of “Make it in America.”
“I am super proud to say that I am here. I never thought this would be possible,” said Duncan, who thanked her family, friends, and teachers for their unwavering support. “This diploma shows me that if you put in the hard work and believe in yourself, anything is possible for you to accomplish.”
Duncan expressed her gratitude for the adult education program. “As a single mom, I never thought I would have the opportunity to graduate, but this program allowed me to show my children that I can, that we can, accomplish our dreams no matter what.”
Wolfenbarger gave special thanks and a round of applause to his Adult Education teachers, Trish Tompkins, Judy Commers, and Steve Chrobak. “I saw first-hand the passion that these teachers have, and they pushed me to believe that I could actually do this even when I didn’t think I could.”
Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins also spoke during the ceremony, telling graduates she had heard heartwarming stories regarding their perseverance, hope, and accomplishments. “We are very proud of you and the courageous manner in which you continued your pursuit of education,” she said. “Whatever path you take now, your efforts will open the door to your success, and it will be your responsibility to keep it open.”
Michigan City Area Schools administers the LaPorte County Adult Education program. Diplomas at the ceremony were conferred by Michigan City Area School Board Members Marty Corley, Thomas Dombkowski, Michael Gresham, and Phyllis Stark. Julie Fregien, Director of Adult Education, presided over the event.
Twenty-nine of the Adult Education graduates this year earned “College and Career Ready” recognition from the State of Indiana due to their high scores on subject-area High School Equivalency exams. The designation enables them to apply for admission to any postsecondary institution in Indiana without remediation.
