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School for the Deaf holds 193rd commencement - News - West Hartford News
American School for the Deaf Class President Joseph P. Ronan was nervous about enrolling in the school the first time because he had never met other deaf kids.
Now he looks back on his time at ASD with fondness as he and the rest of the 19 students from the class of 2010 have graduated from the school.
“I’ve grown up here with many of the students who graduate here today,” Ronan stated.
The pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school – the first school for the deaf in the country – held its 193rd commencement on June 16, graduating students from all over Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts and Mew York.
Mark Redekas, the class’ treasurer who first enrolled in ASD in 1992 when he was three-years-old, evoked Walt Whitman.
“All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them,” he stated.
An avid car fan, Redekas had "Ford Mustang" written on the top of his graduation cap. He’ll be attending the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf in Big Spring, Texas to become an automotive technician.
Commencement speaker Mike Bello, president and executive director of the Learning Center for the Deaf, stated to the class that they should cherish their American sign language, support one another and remember their time at the school.
“Support your community. The deaf community needs each of you,” he stated.
“Graduation is not the end, it is only the beginning. Learning is a lifelong experience,” he stated.
Nine scholarships were given out to students via the Monte Scholarship, money left by ASD graduate Ms. Althea Monte in 1929. She donated $300,000 to the school to help college-bound seniors pay for their college education. Redekas received three scholarships, totaling $6,500.
Morris Palmer of Hartford and Corey Pratt of South Windsor both received the Headmaster’s Award from Executive Director Edward Peltier, the most prestigious award given out by the school.
American School for the Deaf Class President Joseph P. Ronan was nervous about enrolling in the school the first time because he had never met other deaf kids.
Now he looks back on his time at ASD with fondness as he and the rest of the 19 students from the class of 2010 have graduated from the school.
“I’ve grown up here with many of the students who graduate here today,” Ronan stated.
The pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school – the first school for the deaf in the country – held its 193rd commencement on June 16, graduating students from all over Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts and Mew York.
Mark Redekas, the class’ treasurer who first enrolled in ASD in 1992 when he was three-years-old, evoked Walt Whitman.
“All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them,” he stated.
An avid car fan, Redekas had "Ford Mustang" written on the top of his graduation cap. He’ll be attending the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf in Big Spring, Texas to become an automotive technician.
Commencement speaker Mike Bello, president and executive director of the Learning Center for the Deaf, stated to the class that they should cherish their American sign language, support one another and remember their time at the school.
“Support your community. The deaf community needs each of you,” he stated.
“Graduation is not the end, it is only the beginning. Learning is a lifelong experience,” he stated.
Nine scholarships were given out to students via the Monte Scholarship, money left by ASD graduate Ms. Althea Monte in 1929. She donated $300,000 to the school to help college-bound seniors pay for their college education. Redekas received three scholarships, totaling $6,500.
Morris Palmer of Hartford and Corey Pratt of South Windsor both received the Headmaster’s Award from Executive Director Edward Peltier, the most prestigious award given out by the school.