MONROE - The 2009 Monroe Alternative Charter School graduates all can look back to Friday as the night they said goodbye to their teachers and hello to their future.
As the students gathered for the last time at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center, teacher Jeff Bakken praised them for their perseverance.
"You guys didn't give up," he told them as the audience cheered. He talked about what they had to overcome and how much they will be remembered.
"Thank you for giving us memories we'll never forget," he told them.
Graduate Brent Wollin thanked the teachers and parents for their support, and offered advice to other students at the school.
"Without a high school diploma, you won't be able to accomplish your dreams," he said. "To all of my classmates - congratulations. We made it."
Charter School Principal Lynne Wheeler said the school was the dream of former Charter School Principal Dan Bauer. She said he told her how he envisioned the school and how it would help students.
"You folks are his dream," Wheeler said.
Family and friends celebrated with the 11 graduates as they crossed the stage to accept their diplomas from Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown.
Some of the graduates will go on to further their education, some will join the workforce and one plans to enter the military.
Where they came from, how they got to the Charter School and where they will go may be different, but they all share the fact they were part of the class of 2009.
The 2009 graduates were Wollin, Kihal Baker, Eddie Brown-Miller, Vaughan Coplien, Justin Douglas, Alyssa Huff, Brian Martin, Ken Reeve, Eric Runaas, Cody Vavra and Ricky Ward.
As the students gathered for the last time at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center, teacher Jeff Bakken praised them for their perseverance.
"You guys didn't give up," he told them as the audience cheered. He talked about what they had to overcome and how much they will be remembered.
"Thank you for giving us memories we'll never forget," he told them.
Graduate Brent Wollin thanked the teachers and parents for their support, and offered advice to other students at the school.
"Without a high school diploma, you won't be able to accomplish your dreams," he said. "To all of my classmates - congratulations. We made it."
Charter School Principal Lynne Wheeler said the school was the dream of former Charter School Principal Dan Bauer. She said he told her how he envisioned the school and how it would help students.
"You folks are his dream," Wheeler said.
Family and friends celebrated with the 11 graduates as they crossed the stage to accept their diplomas from Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown.
Some of the graduates will go on to further their education, some will join the workforce and one plans to enter the military.
Where they came from, how they got to the Charter School and where they will go may be different, but they all share the fact they were part of the class of 2009.
The 2009 graduates were Wollin, Kihal Baker, Eddie Brown-Miller, Vaughan Coplien, Justin Douglas, Alyssa Huff, Brian Martin, Ken Reeve, Eric Runaas, Cody Vavra and Ricky Ward.