TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Teens mark a milestone

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: May 27, 2009

PLANT CITY - At Simmons Career Center, 79 teenagers who at one time were considered at risk of dropping out of high school will receive diplomas in a ceremony today.

"It's an academic program with a career emphasis," said Linda Begley, senior counselor at the school for 11th- and 12-grade students, ages 16 to 18. "And you have to be bright enough to pass the FCAT, which is challenging."

It is fairly common for graduates to bring large numbers of friends and family to the ceremony, because it is often a personal milestone.

"We've had kids bring 100 guests because no one in the family had ever graduated" high school, Begley said.

Maria Chillura, corporate-level marketing manager for Sweetbay Supermarkets, will deliver the commencement address.

Also, 2009 graduate Lea Temfer will also address her fellow students.

Simmons has no valedictorian, salutatorian nor class president. Rather than competition, the students and faculty focus on cooperative efforts at the school many call a place where like-minded people have found their niche.

Today's ceremony is at 5 p.m. at the Trinkle center on the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 627-4769. Keyword: Simmons Center Grads, for a list of graduates.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT