A message on a vehicle parked outside the Kenai Alternative High School graduation ceremony says it all.
Kenai Alternative's Class of 2009 left its mark on the school.
Kelly Bishop, who works at the school, smooths out the wrinkles in students' graduation gowns just before the ceremony.
Samuel Cazares signs his name on a ceiling tile before the graduation ceremony.
Story last updated at 6/1/2009 - 3:45 pm
Kenai Alternative High School
For most students, graduating from high school, while hard work, is a step that is for the most part anticipated.
Some students, however, take an alternative approach to the milestone achievement.
"It only took me six years," said Lucas Murray as he prepared to accept his diploma from Kenai Alternative High School.
Murray, who would like to find oilfield work after graduation, said he spent two years at Kenai Alternative.
"If I wouldn't have come here, I wouldn't have graduated," Murray said. "It's just the attitude of the school. Everybody is more relaxed. It's easier to work here."
"I didn't thin I was going to make it," said Brianne Hewitt. "If it wasn't for my husband, I don't think I'd have made it this far.
"I'm going to go to college. Eventually, I'm going to open my own beauty salon."
Hewitt said she was at Kenai Alternative for just seven weeks, but it was enough time for her to complete her high school education -- after five years of effort.
"They gave me a lot of support," Hewitt said.
Landon Beatty said he was excited to be done with high school, and was looking forward to taking some classes at Kenai Peninsula College next fall.
Justin VinZant said he'd been in high school for six years, three of them at Kenai Alternative.
"I was having trouble at other schools. They're more laid back here," VinZant said.
VinZant said he plans to join the Navy.
"I need my high school diploma to get in there, or a GED, but I didn't want to get a GED."
VinZant said he'd like to learn underwater welding skills while in the service.
Deni Humphrey said she was nervous prior to the graduation ceremony.
"I've finally accomplished a goal I never thought I'd do," she said.
Humphrey said she plans to be a stay-at-home mom for her infant son for a while and is hoping to find something that interests her as a career choice. While she finished her coursework in January, she said being pregnant in high school did make for a unique experience.
"(I was) the only pregnant girl playing handball," she said.
This year marked Kenai Alternative's largest graduating class, as 48 students collected their diplomas.
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