Carrie Lane High School graduates celebrate, share their journeys

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Sixteen students making up the Carrie Lane High School class of 2025 received their diplomas Saturday afternoon at a ceremony held at First Congregational United Church of Christ, where the Charles City School District’s Innovative Campus is located.

Another student who wasn’t able to attend the graduation also earned her diploma.

The graduates are: Philip Maurice Armstrong Jr., Abigail Jean Bucknell, Lillie Ann Caster, Hailey Jane Herman, Ella Esmee Jones, Cassandra Kay Kelly, Dominic Corey James McGhee, Saint Pierre Kadiebwe Muamba, Evelyn Jean Reed, Orion Robert Reh, Hailey Elizabeth Schmidt, Skyler Dean Schneider, Reegan Severin, Gage Slick, Kaden Matthew Slick and Nyna Pearl Walsh; not present, Karlie Lynn Kitner.

Six student speakers gave heartfelt remarks about how the Carrie Lane alternative school and staff had helped them find a path to graduation – something that some said they had once felt was out of reach, including even during early months at Carrie Lane.

They spoke about struggles with attendance, homework, home life and fitting in at the traditional high school, and how the flexible structure at Carrie Lane allowed them to work with the staff to design a program that helped them succeed.

They especially credited the support of Joshua Dean, the program coordinator and teacher, for always being willing to listen and challenge them to do better.

For his part, Dean, who was also the event speaker, joked that he had decided not to give the speech had had written which would have explained “the meaning of life,” and instead took a moment to talk about each of the 16 students sitting in their self-selected colorful caps and gowns, recalling the interview each had to go through to become part of Carrie Lane.

He gently poked some of them about their rocky starts in the program, including wondering if some would make it through, only to have them turn it around and shine, working hard to reach the point where they were part of the graduating class Saturday afternoon.

“I am not kidding when I tell you that you’re one of the best groups that we’ve ever had in my time. I seriously want you to know that,” Dean said. “Don’t think I say that to every class. Or if I do, I really don’t mean it as much as I do here.”

He told the graduates there are always welcome to drop by the school, or call or text, to update him on how their lives are going, or to just talk.

“Please, please please, know that the door is open,” Dean said. “I’m really, really going to miss you guys, because you are amazing to me.”

Several scholarships were awarded at the program. They were:

• The Guillermo Gonzalez Alumni Scholarship, given by a graduate of the Carrie Lane High School who now owns a large construction business, to Hailey Herman and Ella Jones.

• The Perry Novak Electric Scholarship, presented by Carrie Lane Class of 2023 graduate Hailey Novak, to Lillie Caster.

• National 19th Amendment Society Scholarship, presented by society member Ivadelle Stevenson to Evelyn Read.

Dean also recognized students who earned special cords to wear with their gowns, a first for the school:

• Silver cord worn by Orion Reh, for more than 200 hours of community service.

• Red, white and blue cord – worn by Reh and by Skyler Schneider, students who have enlisted to enter the armed services after graduation, in their case the Marine Corps.

• Pink cord – worn by Gage Slick, for achievement in the Charles City High School music program, in choir, jazz choir and jazz band.