Carrie Lane High School graduates the Class of 2024

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Carrie Lane High School Class of 2024 celebrated their graduation with a commencement program on Saturday, May 25.

Friends and family filled the First Congregational UCC building as 23 seniors were recognized for completing their high school education.

“A couple of years ago I didn’t think I was going to make it here,” said Alycia Salinas, one of the class’ student speakers at the ceremony.

Salinas expressed her appreciation for the school that has given her and her classmates an opportunity to complete their education in the face of extreme circumstances.

“They’ve had to jump some pretty massive hoops that a lot of people don’t even have to think about,” said Salinas.

Also speaking at the ceremony were Shania Francis, Abigail Franzen, Taylor Ungs, and Kaitlin Stermer, each taking to the podium to describe what attending the alternative high school has meant to them.

“I didn’t think I was going to love it as much, but from the short time that I’ve been a Carrie Lane student I have loved it and I’m going to miss it for sure,” said Francis.

The students expressed their gratitude for the friends and family that have helped them along the way, along with special appreciation to school coordinator Joshua Dean and paraeducator Brittany “Jersey” Thoma for giving them what they needed to turn their education around.

“Dean and Jersey gave me the motivation to love going to school, showing up every day, and doing my work,” said Franzen.

“Don [Betts], Dean, and Jersey are probably the most respectable, understanding, and supportive teachers I’ve ever known,” said Ungs. “They didn’t only teach. They are our role models, mentors, and even sometimes therapists, whether they like it or not.”

“For some of us, what seemed impossible at times has finally become the achievable,” said Stermer. “Here we are, standing before those who never stopped believing in us.”

Following the student speakers was the awards presentation, where retired Carrie Lane Coordinator Don Betts presented Matthew Stayton with the Guillermo Gonzalez Alumni Scholarship.

Introducing a new scholarship, 2023 Carrie Lane graduate Haley Novak presented Amber Bedard with the new Perry Novak Electric Scholarship.

Finally, 2023 recipient Paris Armstrong presented Abigail Franzen with this year’s National 19th Amendment Society scholarship. However, the 19th Amendment Society had a surprise for Armstrong, presenting her with a second scholarship as she continues her college education.

Before presenting the diplomas, school coordinator Joshua Dean gave his final piece of advice to his students, turning his topical encounter with Charles City’s speeding cameras into a teaching opportunity to impart one last life lesson.

“Don’t focus your entire life on negative things,” said Dean.