On the evening of June 7, family, friends and community members came together at Feather River College to celebrate Plumas Charter School’s class of 2024.
Brittini Wade, Quincy Learning Center’s site coordinator welcomed guests and congratulated the graduates for demonstrating resilience, adaptability, responsibility and commitment throughout their school years. She reminded the seniors that these skills will serve them well as they move forward in their lives. “At PCS, we aim to provide consistency, a quality education and an abundance of love and support for our students,” she told the crowd.
Speakers
Each learning center was represented by a student speaker during the ceremony. Jackson Smith from the Chester Learning Center started the speeches by thanking friends, family, teachers and God. He proposed a challenge to his classmates, to not think and act selfishly, but to go forward to serve and love others. Smith read from Philippians 2:3, quoting, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.”
Indian Valley Academy was represented by cousins, Carson Goss and Daisy Neer. The duo thanked PCS teachers and staff for their guidance and support. Neer explained to the audience that PCS embraced a new core value this year, perseverance. “This value resonates deeply as it encapsulates the spirit and determination required to overcome life’s challenges,” she said. Goss continued by reminding his classmates that perseverance is not just about enduring hardships. “It’s about maintaining steadfast focus on your goals and pushing forward even when the path is difficult, learning from failures and using them as stepping stones to success,” he said.
With a heartfelt smile, Lilah Washburn of the Quincy Learning Center concluded the student speeches by expressing gratitude to her parents, including her mom, Taletha Washburn, the dedicated executive director of PCS. She thanked highschool teachers, Brittani Wade, Casey Peters and Jess DeVan for their unwavering support and spoke about the apprehension and excitement that comes with saying goodbye to the high school years. “As we step into the unknown, whether it's college, work or other adventures, the lack of a clear roadmap can be overwhelming,” she said. She urged her classmates to embrace the unknown with an open mind. “Growing up is not about leaving everything behind, it's about carrying forward the best parts of our high school experience and using them as a foundation for our future.” Washburn ended her speech by inviting musician and friend Corinne West to join her at the podium. The two performed “Landslide” by Stevie Nicks.
Motivational speaker and YouTube personality, Mister Brown was the evening’s keynote speaker. He has worked with PCS for two years providing student assemblies and professional development for PCS staff. He spoke with passion to the graduates about overcoming obstacles, working hard and remembering the people that support them along the way. During his talk, there was a moment of levity when he invited the graduates to stand and join him in one of his catchphrases. The seniors repeated, "I can do hard things," raising their arms to flex their muscles. In unison, they then brought their arms down to the ground with a spirited "Huh!" Mister Brown concluded his speech with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. Whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Ceremony
The ceremony continued with the presentation of scholarships. Alicia Hammerich and Karisa Joseph from the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce and Travis Rubke from Greenville Rotary were present to announce award recipients. Chester site coordinator Keri Reed announced additional scholarships and Upward Bound Trio program compleaters. (Scroll down to read the list of scholarships and awards).
Eleven of the seniors completed one or more career-technical-education pathways and wore a color cord representing their field of study. Quincy site director Phil Rader explained that the intent of the CTE program is to provide students with hands-on experience in living-wage career fields of interest to better prepare them for entering post-secondary education or the workforce. The seniors that completed the program were asked to stand for a round of applause.
Up next was the rose ceremony, in which each student handed out two flowers to people in attendance who had been influential in getting them to the graduation stage.
Finally, it was time for the presentation of diplomas. A representative from each learning center– Keri Reed from the Chester Learning Center, Ryan Schramel from Indian Valley Academy and Brittini Wade from the Quincy Learning Center– introduced the graduates from their site. PCS Executive Director, Taletha Washburn and PCS Board President, Steve Hill presented the diplomas as the seniors walked across the stage.
PCS high school teachers lined up adjacent to the stage and were the first to congratulate each graduate with a handshake or hug as they made their way back to their seats.
Class of 2024
PCS is a personalized learning school, which means students can pursue their education at their own pace, leaving time to pursue personal interests, college courses and employment. Several students leveraged the opportunities of self-paced learning and concurrent college enrollment during their high school years.
The graduate’s plans for the future include pursuing four-year degrees, attending community college locally or elsewhere, entering (or continuing) in the workforce, joining the military or taking a gap year. Before the anticipated moment of turning their tassels and tossing their caps, Reed offered thanks and closing remarks to the audience and the graduating class.
Congratulations to Plumas Charter School’s Class of 2024! Sara Aswad, Simon Becwar-Berry, Haley Blackburn-Brown, Kailey Blackburn-Brown, Teyton Bridges, Skyler Carlson, Kyra Cedillos, Joseph Davis, Aaron Garrett, Carson Goss, Caimyn Griffin, Braden Harris, Macy Hereford, Zoe Hitson, Austin Joa, Ba-sa-kum Joseph, Leo Kusener, Elliana Leff, Turner McIntyre, Lillian Montgomery, Daisy Neer, Skyler Ney, Briana Reinolds, Remi Renfree, Serenity Renteria, Jake Ringo, Moss Scofield, Frankie Smith, Jackson Smith, Russell Standley Jr., Josha Stegall, Dasha Studebaker, Madison Tabor, Elizabeth Trail, Aiden Vaughn, Lilah Washburn and Aurora Zitter.
Click here to watch the full ceremony on YouTube!
By Rachel Goings, Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Scholarships and awards:
Scholarship recipients:
Clayton Floyd Neer Memorial
Haley Blackburn-Brown
Kailey Blackburn-Brown
Greenville Rotary
Carson Goss
Daisy Neer
Braden Harris
Elizabeth Trail
Zoe Hitson
Indian Valley Thrift Store
Skyler Carlson
Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce
Carson Goss
Zoe Hitson
Daisy Neer
Upward Bound Trio Program:
Haley Blackburn-Brown
Kailey Blackburn-Brown
Skyler Carlson
Joshua Stegall
CTE Pathway Completers:
Agriscience and Natural Resources
Briana Reinolds
Lilah Washburn
Art, Media & Entertainment
Haley Blackburn-Brown
Kailey Blackburn-Brown
Skyler Carlson
Leo Kusener
Jake Ringo
Lilah Washburn
Aiden Vaughn
Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation
Simon Becwar Berry
Leo Kusener
Lilah Washburn
Patient Care
Carson Goss
Daisy Neer
Aurora Zittrer
Software Systems (I.T.)
Joseph Davis