MSAD 52 graduates that attended the commencement June 11 at Leavitt Area High School in Turner. Contributed photo

TURNER — MSAD 52 Adult Education held its annual commencement celebration June 11 at Leavitt Area High School, with 18 students who completed their studies despite the pandemic.

The graduates included Bachir Ahmed, Isaiah Bowmaster, Gabrielle Castonguay, Raimi Colbert, Tina Cote, Madysen Dubois, Katelyn Farrar, Serena Fecteau, Emily Gagne, Savannah Harris, Hannah McNeil, Mohamed Mohamed, Caleb Morris, Hannah Robbins, Shyanne Beauchesne, Brooke Thenor, Asia Tisba and Zachareh White.

Razell Ward, the director of the program, gave a welcome address that thanked students and staff for their hard work during the unprecedented time, according to a news release from the MSAD 52 Adult and Community Education.

“It is amazing what you have accomplished,” she told students. “You have learned how to be flexible, how to overcome obstacles; you have learned new technologies, and above all, you were successful in doing all of this during a global pandemic. You remained dedicated in the hardest times, and that is what makes you special, and that is what makes you shine.”

MSAD 52 Superintendent Kimberly Brandt was the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony. She started off her address by stating that, “You are at your graduation right now because you have demonstrated the most important trait a human can possess, and that is perseverance.”

Thenor related to the audience of family and friends, and those attending via livestream. She spoke of how at age 16, she left school because of a pregnancy and then worked as a CNA until she was 22. When employers started requiring a diploma, she needed to stop working.

Thenor said, “After years of being a stay-at-home mom with four children, I realized that I wanted better for myself, and I wanted my kids to see me do better things.” Thenor decided to enroll in the adult education program and receive her high school equivalency credential by earning a HiSET certificate.

At the ceremony  several student awards were presented and celebrated. National Adult Education Honor Society inductees for 2021 include Bowmaster, Castonguay, Cote, Harris, Thenor and Mohamed. Inductees were recognized with pins and certificates.

The annual HAIL MARY Award (for a student who enters the program within the last two months and completes in time for graduation) was given to  Castonguay for finishing her HiSET requirements in only a few weeks’ time.

Teacher Melanie North presented HiSET highest scoring awards to McNeil, Bowmaster and Colbert. HiSET Honors scores ranged from 92 to 96 (out of 100), and all HiSET Honors students earned College Ready scores in each subject area. The Winston Award was also presented to Cote for never giving up on her goal of high school completion.

The Central Maine Community College Courage to Grow Award was presented to Mohamed for his perseverance and dedication to his academic pursuits. This scholarship award includes a free college course of his choosing to continue on with his education.