On June 14, 38 graduates said good-bye to BEST High School, finishing their secondary careers. Gayle Cudworth, principal, introduced each graduate with a glimpse into the individual's tenure throughout high school, proclaimed their dreams and led the audience in applauding their congratulations and wishing them well.
In this cohesive group of diverse learners and personalities, there were the tears, the cheers, the bombastic exuberance of attending friends and the hugs - yes, the hugs for each other, and their family members and their teachers and advisers.
The warmth of those connections sprung many a tear from watching and admiring parents.
Mary Jane Bradford - the choice of her graduating classmates - addressed the group. Her challenge to her classmates was to live fully and deeply with great appreciation for the special, accepting place BEST served in their lives. And graduates Laura Danbom and Chanel Boeve sang as all clapped in unison and danced in their seats to the rhythm and blues.
Senior adviser Ken Rouse introduced local businesses and far-away colleges that awarded scholarships to some of the hard-working and deserving graduates. There were eight awards totaling $8,500. Recipients included: Mary Jane Bradford, Laura Danbom, Kristen Germeaux and Kim Crowley.
The superintendent of the Lake Washington School District, Dr. Don Saul, attended the ceremony, and members of the school board came to view these successful graduates prance on stage as assistant superintendent Cindy Meilleur handed them their diplomas and spoke her own quiet words to each.
BEST is a choice school with day and night programs. It graduated a total of 77 students this school year, with most of those not walking in the ceremony having finished early in the year and already scattered into the world of study or work. One graduate, Richard Sardelli, now a Marine and on active duty received special notice in his absence.
Students at BEST find themselves meeting high academic standards and the expectations of a highly educated and dedicated staff. They migrate to BEST where they can express their learning styles and learn at a pace that is at one with their best selves.
Students gain entrance to BEST after scrutiny by the staff and an introductory plunge into the learning culture of the school. Once there, they report they have found safe haven.[[In-content Ad]]
