Graduates prepare for the future

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Brandyn Twenty plans to study biology this fall at Youngs-town State University.

“I want to be a veterinarian,” he said.

Twenty, one of 42 2013 graduates from the Mahoning County Southern Park Academy, received a scholarship Friday during the graduation ceremony from the Simon Youth Foundation toward his education. The total for up to four years is $31,000.

MCSPA, housed in Southern Park Mall, is a program for students who don’t do well in a traditional school setting.

Principal Brad Justice said most of the students have difficulty at their home schools because of child-care issues, because they were picked on or dealt with some other issue that put them at risk of dropping out.

They take classes at MCSPA but remain students at their home schools and also attend those schools’ commencement ceremonies, where they receive their diplomas. Eight of the graduates attended Friday’s ceremony at the mall.

Several Mahoning County schools are represented.

The scholarship Twenty received “is awarded to individuals who have worked tirelessly to earn their diploma, and seek to pursue their dreams in post-secondary education,” according to a news release.

Keynote speaker Cindy Cairns, former director of pupil services and early childhood at the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, told students that they’ve overcome obstacles, but they still have hurdles to clear.

To earn a living, they’ll likely need some type of secondary education. That could be college or career training or the military, she said.

In whatever career they pursue, students will need what Cairns called the Four C’s and a W.

They are collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and work ethic.

This marks the 13th year for the school and during that time, 560 students have graduated, Justice said.

“We are making a difference in the community,” he said.