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Five students received their high school diploma and five
students received their GED. This was the largest graduating class since
2009. In its 20 year history, a total of 167 students have graduated
from the Gwaltney School.
Dr. Bill Bowling, Director of Education, presided over the
ceremony. Three students, Aureana, Genya and Fidel were the commencement
speakers. Their speeches provided everyone in the audience an
understanding of how important this day was to them as well as their
deep gratitude towards the faculty and staff who helped them along the
way.
Five scholarships were awarded to students to help them with
the expenses to further their education. In addition to the scholarships
awarded, there were special gifts that were given to all the graduates.
Among these were cash gifts, gift cards, flowers for the girls and
wallets for the boys. Helen Sharpe-Williams, President of the Episcopal
Church Women of the Diocese of Southern Virginia was in attendance and
presented each graduate with a cash gift as a token for their
accomplishment. An anonymous donor gave each graduate a $100 gift
certificate and each girl a bouquet of red roses and each boy a wallet.
Each student also received a class ring that was funded by an anonymous
donor.
This ceremony is one of the highlights of the year for both
children and staff as it culminates and validates the mission of
Jackson-Feild and celebrates the accomplishments of it children.
