CIU 20 Honors 2012 Graduates (5/29/2012)

Thursday, May 24, 2012 – Easton, Pa. – As another school year comes to an end, Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 celebrated the achievements of 23 exceptional students at the annual graduation ceremony on May 24, 2012. Students from the Multidisability Support, Life Skills Support, Physical Support and Autistic Support programs participated in the celebration of their accomplishments throughout their time in CIU 20 classrooms.

After welcoming remarks by CIU 20’s Executive Director, Dr. Charlene M. Brennan, Dr. Gail Vogel, CIU 20’s Director of Special Education delivered the evening’s keynote address to students, “Seeing Possibilities.”

The 2012 commencement speech was delivered by Cheyenne Vincent Diaz, from the Life Skills Support Program (home school district is Stroudsburg Area School District). Cheyenne’s speech was titled “Dreams, Dreams, Dreams” and focused on how he recently landed his dream job at East Stroudsburg University. He encouraged his classmates to dream the best for themselves, and ended his inspirational speech by saying, “I know that if you follow your dreams and work hard, your dreams will come true, too!”

Student’s families, in addition to IU staff, board members, and school district representatives from the student’s home school district, were in attendance at the ceremony. Each student was called by name by an intermediate unit special education administrator and district representative to come forward and receive an IU graduation certificate, as well as their diploma from their home school district.

Following the presentation, Mark Edward Miller Jr., a graduate from the Life Skills Support Program at Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 (his home school district is Pen Argyl Area School District) introduced the class of 2012 and led the seniors in flipping their graduation tassels.

A cake reception followed the ceremony for celebration by all attendees.

Back row: Mark Miller, Pen Argyl SD; Tariq Person, Northampton SD; Justin Sysak, Northampton SD; Kate Delmore, Saucon Valley SD; Amber Abraham, Northampton SD; and Zachary Steinmetz, Pen Argyl SD; Front row: Morgan Davis, Easton SD

Tracey Jacobi, Supervisor of Special Education, presents Jessica Henry,
Stroudsburg SD, with her diploma with Tricia Viglione, Director of Special Education
for the Stroudsburg Area SD

Sherry Newhard, teacher from Northampton HS Physical Support class assists
graduate Zachary Storm, Bethlehem SD, with his diploma

2012 CIU 20 GRADUATES

Bethlehem Area School District
Philip Frisbie
Kara Spano Boyskey
Zachary Robert Storm

East Stroudsburg Area School District
Shane Abby Lynch
Jonathon Perlaza
Kristina Marie Zimmerman

Easton Area School District
Jeffrey Scott Beam
Morgan C. Davis

Northampton Area School District
Amber Nicole Abraham
Samuel Meyer
Tariq Dustin Peterson
Justin Paul Sysak

Pen Argyl Area School District
Mark Edward Miller, Jr.
Zachary Alan Steinmetz

Pleasant Valley School District
Heather Erin DeJong
Gerald L. Iovino, III.

Pocono Mountain School District
Kaitlynn Elms-Dash
Shantell Smith

Saucon Valley School District
Kathryn Delmore

Stroudsburg Area School District
Cheyenne Vincent Diaz

Jessica Henry
Amanda Dove Kulp

Wilson Area School District
Esperanza Rojas

All Highlights

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Hiking Challenge Met by Students at Pleasant Valley Middle School (View)

Pleasant Valley High School Students Experience Interesting Activities (View)

Students Enjoy Using Laptops/Technology in Class (View)

New Year, New Technology (View)

CIU 20 Central Office Helps Superstorm Sandy Victims (View)

Being Aware of Disabilities Benefits Professionals and Students (View)

Students from the Emotional Support Program “Take A Hike" (View)

Fall Connecting More Than Just the Changing Seasons at Easton Area Middle School (View)

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