By Madelyn Litz

SAD 61/72 Adult Ed Director

Adult high school diplomas or equivalency were conferred to 25 graduates of Lake Region & Fryeburg Area Adult Education on Thursday, June 17. 

Seventeen of these students were able to attend the graduation ceremony, held in the Lake Region High School auditorium. This ceremony was the culmination of a lot of hard work leading to success for our graduates. The event was followed by a brief gathering, where students received their gift bag and individual congratulatory cake to share with family and friends. 

Both the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club and the Greater Bridgton Lake Region Chamber generously awarded scholarships to four deserving students, who are continuing their post-secondary education. Rotarian Erin Nelson and Chamber President Heidi Edwards made the presentations to: Kenneth Dunlop, Hannah Leighton, Jay Butts, and Danielle Coe. We greatly appreciate the support these two organizations give to our program and students. 

The guest speaker, Camille Evans, is a former adult education College Transitions student, and a 2014 graduate of LRHS. She rendered a poignant speech to the students that outlined her own struggles through high school culminating in her success and recent graduation from Suffolk University in Boston. She gave words of encouragement to the students: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Make and work toward goals for yourself, both big and small. Learn to roll with the punches and follow the three P’s to process, plan, and proceed. And remember to show yourself kindness along the way. Today is the start of a new journey for you, and I am so excited for all of you to take this next step forward. I believe in you.”

Our adult education program is here to help anyone who desires to complete or continue their education — we offer the support many need to process, plan, and proceed to achieve their goals. Congratulations to all our graduates!