CHOICE celebrates 37 graduates

CHOICE High School celebrated the graduation of 37 students at a commencement ceremony June 2 in the Shelton High School Performing Arts District.

CHOICE Principal Stacey Anderson pointed out the members of the Class of 2022 weathered a challenging education that included learning from home during part of the COVID pandemic and then returning, wearing face masks and social distancing, to the campus in downtown Shelton.

"You'll always be a CHOICE (wild)cat, no matter where you go," she said.

Alivia Zettelmier, Makayla Hart and Alexzandra Neal were the student speakers. The trio stepped up to the microphone together to present their words.

Graduates Caleb White, Savannah Kipple and Alexzandra Neal were awarded $500 Theresa Johnson Memorial scholarships. The scholarship honors "The Queen of CHOICE," a beloved teacher who inspired students before her death from cancer. This is the eighth year the scholarships have been awarded, totaling almost $40,000. Steph's Espresso collects donations for the scholarships, said Johnson's daughter, Jenny Goss.

CHOICE teacher Danae Place was slated to be the guest speaker, but was ill. Glenhelen Smither read Place's speech aloud.

Place's speech began by quoting the late civil rights activist and U.S. Congressman John Lewis: "Get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble."

"The world needed John Lewis' good trouble. And I'm honored to be looking out at graduates who needed those traits as we have watched them overcome the challenges that have come from events like the death of loved ones, enduring chronic illness, growing up and learning in neurologically typical settings as someone with neurodiversity, homelessness, the walls of a cell, trauma - whatever it was - still you persisted and got you your education. And whether or not I had the honor of knowing your story personally, as you ready yourselves to walk across this stage, I am so proud of each one of you. The world needs you."

The graduates are Geovany Antonio, Gaerett Bailey, Alexis Barringer, Elizabeth Bobo, Jesse Bogue, Ashlee Boysen, Alex Brady, Michael Brady, Abigail Coggins, Cadel Coleman, Kyle Dimisillo, Brooke Gutierrez, Cassandra Guzman Pena, Makayla Hart, Gustavo A. Juarez Villa, Maximus Kangas-Hanes, Savannah Kipple, Alexander Kurnosoff, Tina Macuixtle, Jasmine Meadors, Selana Montano, Brianna Myers, Alexzandra Neal, Zoe Pearson, Susanna Peck, Taylen Powell, Jacob Richards, Misty Sady, David Simon, Hailey Spirlock, Jax St. John, Evan Stephens, Isaac Torres-Hooker, Caleb White, Emma Wiles, Audra Wyatt and Alivia Zettelmier.