‘Like having another family’

The entrance of the eight graduates who participated in Kenai Alternative High School’s 2021 graduation ceremony on Tuesday was heralded by an electric guitar rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Flanked by clusters of family, friends and staff, Kenai Alternative’s eight participating graduates walked the length of the gym to chairs on either side of a podium loaded with blue and yellow flowers. Also in attendance were Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Dave Jones, KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes and members of the KPBSD Board of Education.

Principal Loren Reese said it is part of Kenai Alternative’s tradition to have student speakers at graduation instead of guest speakers. Graduates Jullian Miller and Alivia Howard spoke this year.

Miller said he has been attending Kenai Alt since 2017 and previously struggled with his attendance, but that support offered by school staff, particularly Reese, and his family made his graduation possible.

“[Kenai] Alternative felt like a dream at first until you walk into this building and see just how real it is,” Miller said. “I couldn’t have done it without Mr. Reese, though. With all the chances he gave me and times he never gave up. I am eternally grateful, and I know my family is too. I couldn’t have done it without them either.”

Howard echoed thanks for staff and family in helping her graduate and said she wants “nothing but good fortune” for her fellow graduates.

“Now I can go out into the world and I know I can do anything and I will do anything I set my mind to without giving up in the process,” Howard said. “… There’s not a day that goes by where I’m not thankful for Mr. Reese for allowing me to be here today. The Kenai Alternative is like having another family.”

Graduate Brianna Mosiman was recognized for receiving a scholarship from the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she plans to attend college after graduation. In an interview prior to the ceremony, Mosiman said she hopes to study something relating to science, which she said is appealing because of how broad it is as a subject. Though the year had its challenges, she said, she enjoyed being able to work at her own pace and being able to spend more time outside.

Graduate Dru Wilson was presented with a Masonic Outstanding Student Award, which is awarded by the local Masonic Lodge and is based on academic achievement and good citizenship. Through the Kenai Elks Lodge, Kenai Alternative recognizes students of the month, which is an award based on attendance, classroom performance and citizenship. Students of the month recognized Tuesday included Jullian Miller, Aidan Gaedecke, Dru Wilson and Alivia Howard.

Reese said it is also part of Kenai Alternative High School’s tradition to honor students with non-academic awards. Among those given out on Tuesday were the “Betty Crocker Award,” the “Best Laugh Ever Award” and the “Great Debater Award.” Also honored were the four staff who are leaving Kenai Alternative this year: Gary Wertz, Meredith McCullough, Wade Marcuson and Vickie Roney.

In congratulating graduates, Reese encouraged them to always be kind to others and said how proud he was of them for their accomplishments.

“While this pandemic is taking much from this world, I believe it has also given us a great deal as well,” Reese said. “It has made us focus on what’s truly most important: family, friends, health and our community. All of a sudden, the little things in life, those things that we all took for granted, now have become also important.”

Along with their diplomas, graduates also received a yellow rose, which they were asked to present to someone in the room who made their graduation from Kenai Alternative High School possible. Some were given to family members while others were given to staff. Reese was given two of the eight roses.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

In all, Kenai Alternative High School graduated 10 seniors, eight of whom chose to walk during Tuesday’s ceremony. Kenai Alternative’s 10 graduates are: Payton Boze, Katrina-Marii Alexi Conaway, Aidan Monroe Gaedecke, Alivia Grace Howard, Jullian Miller, Brianna Lynn Mosiman, Kaleb Mark Palmer, Dorothy Lucy Iris Rivers, Jeremy Ray Souders and Dru Anthony Wilson.