Struthers Class of 2015 ensures veteran soldiers, Wildcats get diplomas

Staff report

STRUTHERS

Students in the Struthers High School 2015 graduating class once again showed their true nature.

On Sunday, they shared their graduation ceremony with veteran Wildcats who never received a diploma.

Seven veterans received honorary diplomas decades after they were supposed to because they either had to leave high school to work to provide for their families or they left to go into the service.

“This class is all about kindness, generosity, appreciation and service,” said Joseph Nohra Jr., Struthers superintendent. “These graduates are kind people.”

Class President Noah Linnen reminded his more than 140 graduating class members of the kind acts they made in their time together.

The class gathered to support Samson Macklen’s family while his late brother, Dean Macklen, battled multiple cancers.

“We did this to show [the Macklens] that we were there for them,” Linnen said.

Recently, the class pushed to make certain that classmate Sarah Williams was elected prom queen. Williams, who battles a rare genetic disorder affecting the central nervous system, is confined to a wheelchair.

“[Sarah] winning prom queen was a way for us to show her we were there,” Linnen said.

On Sunday, the class once again was there to cheer on Williams with a standing ovation as she received her diploma. Williams never stopped smiling as the Struthers Field House erupted in cheers for her, for the class of 2015 and for Struthers.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.