Peachtree – The workforce is a bit richer with the graduation of 16 students from The Oaks Academy on Thursday evening.
Students filed in to Tri-County Community College’s Enloe Building to a waiting audience, excited to celebrate their accomplishments. The graduation ceremony opened with the national anthem, followed by an introduction by Principal Jason Forrister.
Katelyn Creasman was the choice for the inaugural Oaks Academy Challenge Award. She cheerful accepted the recognition based on her personal growth, dedication to academic success, focus on the future and interest in service.
Forrister asked students three questions:
1) How do you want your life to take shape?
2) How do you want to make a difference?
3) How do you want to be known?
He then asked the students to consider practicing justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly, as written in Micah 6:8. One by one, students proceeded across the stage to accept the document that brought all of their hard work and dedication to this crowning moment.
“I’m thrilled to be able to see these kids walk across the stage to get their diploma,” science teacher John Worden said of the graduates. “It’s been a long haul for some of them. To see these kids go from kids to adults is just really cool, and I’m proud of every one of them.”
Samuel Crow, father of graduating student Wayne Crow, said, “It’s a big accomplishment. He’s a bit of a knucklehead, but I’m happy and proud of him. He’s graduating a year early.”
The younger Crow said of a small photo dangling from his cap’s tassel, “It’s up there because it’s a tribute to my grandfather, who died.”
His goal for the future is to be an electrical engineer, hoping to one day own his own business. Crow’s biggest challenge was dealing with all the people.
“They’re weird,” he said. Crow’s best subjects were science and math, while his least favorite and most challenging was English.
After the ceremony and a tossing in the air of graduation caps, the event concluded with excitement – and perhaps a bit of relief from graduates, teachers and parents.