The Waycross Ombudsman Center held its graduation ceremony recently and presented 15 students with their diplomas.
The students, who were once at risk for dropping out, received their high school diplomas at a commencement and awards ceremony for the Ombudsman Waycross Learning Center. Ware County School System partners with Ombudsman Educational Services to provide an alternative learning program for students at risk of dropping out of school. The ceremony was held at the Ware County High School Performing Arts Center.
Ware County School System partners with Ombudsman Educational Services to provide an alternative learning program for students at risk of dropping out of school. This year, 15 of 20 eligible seniors earned accredited Ombudsman diplomas, and three earned Ware County School System district diplomas.
The ceremony celebrated students like Denzel Boyd, who first came to Ombudsman in March 2011 because he was severely behind on his credits and losing hope. Once at Ombudsman, Boyd adopted a new outlook and focused on earning his high school diploma and becoming a productive member of his community.
With his renewed focus, Boyd earned all the credits needed to earn his diploma while also participating as an active member of his church’s softball team and graduating from the Crossroads Program at Unison Behavioral Health.
Ware school social workers Debi Jones and Sandi Osburn addressed the graduates, families and guests at the event. Ware public relations director Dr. Theresa Martin,Ware County assistant principal Susan Ziegler, Ombudsman assistant vice president of operations John Wacha and operations manager Arnold Wright attended.
Graduates walked across the stage in caps and gowns to receive their diplomas from Wright, and a reception with refreshments provided by the community immediately followed the ceremony.
Students receiving diplomas included Asha O’Hara, Tylor Dubose, Kimberly Barnett, Brooke Smith, LaTae’ Gibbs, Aaron Douglas, Raneka Taylor, Ashante’ Smith, Alena Holmes, Denzel Boyd, Darrel Moody, James Coombs, Jalarrian Crawley, Bradley Copeland and James Lewis.
Published in print by the Waycross Journal-Herald http://www.wjhnews.com/
