Mahoning County High School holds eighth commencement

May 26, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

28 receive diplomas at school’s 8th commencement ceremony

YOUNGSTOWN

Lots of people counted the Mahoning County High School graduating class of 2017 out, maybe even themselves, said Judge Theresa Dellick of Mahoning County Juvenile Court. But they made it.

Twenty-eight students graduated Thursday morning in the school’s auditorium filled with their closest friends and relatives. It was the school’s eighth commencement.

Every student was ecstatic and proud, boasting of their milestone of completing high school to the intense cheers of the audience.

After the welcome and invocation, former 6th Ward councilwoman and guest speaker Janet Tarpley addressed the graduates, giving them sage advice from her years of experience. Tarpley told the students this is not the ending of their journey, but only the beginning.

“I wish you the best, may your life be filled with peace, hope, happiness. And please, believe that you can do it because you have already,” she said.

The high school, established in 2008, is a public community school that provides education for students from the county’s high schools who have been suspended or expelled. The school focuses on credit-recovery, drop-out prevention and behavioral management to ensure they receive a high school diploma.

Student speaker, senior Torin Logan, gave a speech about the efforts he and everyone else in his class went through to get to this stage, and the belief anything is possible.

“Basically, it doesn’t matter what situation or circumstance that you are in, if you believe in yourself you can achieve whatever you strive for,” he said.