Adult Literacy Center students celebrated achievements ranging from earning their High School Equivalency, completing English as a Second Language and American Citizenship programs at the 2018 End-of-Year Recognition at Manhattanville College's O'Byrne Chapel.
The June 19 ceremony drew hundreds of family and friends who cheered throughout the event as students were recognized for achieving life-changing goals.
"You should be proud of accomplishing a milestone," keynote speaker Teresita B. Wisell, Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Education at Westchester Community College, told the graduates. "I congratulate you for all of the hard work and effort you've made up to today."
Wisell shared her own story of emigrating with her family from Cuba at age 2 and coming to the U.S. via Mexico. Like many in attendance, she learned to rely on two key values: family and education.
"You should be proud of accomplishing a milestone. I congratulate you for all of the hard work and effort you've made up to today." -keynote speaker Teresita B. Wisell
"When we left Cuba with two suitcases and not much else," Wisell said, "no one was able to take away the education my father had built for himself."
Director of Adult and Community Services Dan Myers said his own wife came to the U.S. at a young age and was determined to learn English.
"She made it to the head of the class and stayed there for the 54 years that I've known her," Myers said.
Remember who you are and the values that brought you here, and you will find great success. -Director Dan Myers
Those graduating on this day would have a chance to change the world, he told them, and that will present its own challenges.
"Remember who you are and the values that brought you here, and you will find great success," he said.
The evening opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by ALC Supervisor Maria Guerrero and the National Anthem sung by Rose Moise-Louis. Michael Jefferson, Communications Director for state Sen. Terrence Murphy, was among the dignitaries on hand. Murphy is responsible for securing funding to provide workforce program tuition to 16 ESL and citizenship exam preparation students who received certificates during the event.
Several students were invited to address the assembly representing parts of the overal ALC program, including citizenship students Adriana Ortiz and Maria Aguirre. Each expressed thanks to SWBOCES and to the teachers and classmates who supported them along their journey.
Ortiz said her experience this year was amazing and that she learned she can achieve anything. "Thanks to you I am an American citizen," Ortiz said. "I would not be able to to do this on my own."
Aguirre boasted of her new citizenship and a job in the White Plains Schools. "It's not going to stop there," she said. I"'m going to keep studying and going to school so that I can be a good example for my children and also to be a better person and to do better things with my life."
Gertrude Fontenalle of the Bronx earned her HSE from the program in 2016 but was out of town and missed graduation that year. She promised herself she'd return, and did so this week. She also just earned a culinary arts degree from Monroe College. That had been her long-term goal. She is on her way to earning her bachelor's degree and plans to pursue a master's.
SWBOCES means a lot to me, especially the teachers," she said.
The program is crucial to adult learners like herself, she said.
"If they could make a difference in my life, they could make a difference in so many others' people who just never had a chance to get a high school diploma, and that can take you on your journey," Fontenalle said. "Because now I can feel proud that I've got a culinary degree, and it was BOCES that helped me get my diploma."
Watch an interview prior to the ceremony with 2016 ALC graduate Gertrude Fontonalle, who missed her own graduation and vowed to return to walk, which she did this year.
And enjoy the following slideshow of graduates celebrating after the ceremony.
