January 24, 2020 (Graduation Photos - Album1, Album2) - Center ISD celebrated the 2020 Winter Graduating class during commencement ceremonies last night, January 23rd. With 18 graduates receiving their diploma, the room was full of family and friends applauding their achievement.
Roughrider Academy principal Heath Hagler gave praise to the school's faculty and teachers whose hard work and determination to see the students succeed is commendable. They are: course facilitators - Virginia Fischer and John Jackson; reading intervention - Erica Klein; and instructional support - Beatriz Contreras Mendoza and Jody Stephens. Special recognition was given to Counselor, Cindy Tillery, by Hagler saying, "She is amazing and her contributions to the success to these students is immeasurable."
Before the graduates took their final walk across the stage for their diploma, representatives of the Roughrider Scholarship Foundation, Meg Camp and Lisa McAdams, presented $1,000 scholarships to the following students: Vanessa Arias, Tiffany Campos, Jose Cruz, Dylan Eddington, Alex Leon, Makayla Mayo, Yin Lin Oo, and Diego Salazar.
Then $500 scholarships from the Bone Hill Foundation were presented by Principal Hagler and Counselor Tillery to Vanessa Arias, Tiffany Campos, Jose Cruz, Dylan Eddington, Alex Leon, Makayla Mayo, Yin Lin Oo, and Diego Salazar.
M.J. Oliver, who is graduating with a distinguished level of achievement, made the student address saying, "There are many misconceptions about the school we go to and this evening I'm going to give you an idea of what our school really is and how blessed we have been to be able to end our high school career at Roughrider Academy. Roughrider Academy is usually seen as some type of alternative program for kids with behavioral issues but we are far from that. Roughrider Academy is like a breath of fresh air and eye opening for teenage life. A way to be able to go to work, to go to school, and start your life earlier than most if need be. Going to Roughrider Academy doesn't mean that a kid is bad or that they can't function in a normal school environment."
The speech continued giving praise to the administration and teachers of Roughrider Academy and their invaluable help they gave to the students to get them to this day. Oliver ended with a story covering the journey taken from freshman year and ending with Roughrider Academy, "I'm so happy that I had the opportunity to go to the academy and I am so happy about not only graduating early, that part is honestly scary, but to be able to have and hold the amazing experiences and the amazing memories that I do have... We are all just one big family making our way with what we have."
Congratulations to the Roughrider Academy Winter Graduating Class of 2020: Ingrid Vanessa Arias, Chadeja Keyunea Attaway, Jaydon Markeith Barnes, Jonathan Joan Bustos, Ana Cristina Camacho, Tiffany Anet Campos, Katlynn Marie Cox, Jose Jeronimo Cruz, Dalaysia Tanea Eaden, Dylan Pierce Eddington, Jarvis Ivan Hubbard, Zyrome Ladara Khourn, Alex Javier Leon, Makayla Carol Ann Mayo *, Mary Jo Lynn Oliver, Yin Lin Oo *, Diego Guadalupe Salazar, and Kyle Glen Wright. An * denotes a distinguished level of achievement.
To see the Facebook Live video broadcast by the school, click the following link - https://www.facebook.com/CenterSchools/videos/623178421850716/
