Summit Academy Schools Plan Graduation Ceremonies
With more than 110 seniors set to graduate in the coming weeks, the Summit Academy community is uniting to celebrate its Class of 2023 graduates.
“Their milestone achievement of earning a high school diploma calls for celebration,” says Summit Academy Management CEO John Guyer.
Inspirational speakers, recollections of amusing and awe-inspiring moments, musical performances and sentimental sendoffs will earmark the much-anticipated ceremonies. There, graduates will close the page of their current chapters to begin new ones.
Summit Academy – Youngstown Valedictorian Teon Davis will attend Youngstown State University. Influenced positively by his many years as a Summit Academy student, Davis plans to study early childhood education at YSU. Davis shares his distinguished title with fellow Class of 2023 Valedictorian Marquise Sunderman.
From Summit Academy Secondary School – Akron, senior Delaina Threat will apply her full-ride, Presidential Scholarship from The University of Akron toward a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science with a minor in English. Moving forward from there, Threat plans to pursue graduate studies to earn a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm. D.) degree.
“I always wanted to be a pharmacist,” says Threat, encouraged by her mother, who works as a pharmacy technician. Before starting college in August, Threat says she plans to return to Starbucks and her previous job there, as a barista, this summer.
Meanwhile, Summit Academy Secondary School – Akron Valedictorian Ian Stalker will attend Kent State University with $28,000 in scholarships. The future Kent State Flash plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on sports marketing.
Stalker, who has attended Summit Academy student since the third grade, passes on words of advice to younger students hoping to reach their dreams.
“Perseverance and hard work pay off,” says Stalker, who practices what he preaches. He juggles school and job responsibilities, working part-time at Strickland’s Frozen Custard, and has saved enough money to purchase his first car, all the while excelling in academics.
“Ian has been an exemplary student while at Summit Academy. He is respectful, hard-working and diligent,” says Principal Ralph Grant. “ I expect Ian to meet his goals and to exceed expectations as he pursues his degree from Kent State University. He will be missed at Summit Academy.”
Also deeply missed will be Summit Academy Secondary School – Canton Valedictorian Makayla Mayle. Mayle plans to pursue a nursing degree at Stark State College. Meanwhile, Summit Academy Transition High School – Columbus Valedictorian Dazsha Pace will attend The Ohio State School of Cosmetology. After she receives her cosmetology license, Pace plans to continue her education at Columbus State Community College to earn her business degree. Pace has crafted a plan that will provide her the education and practical experience she will need to open and run her own salon in the future, says Principal Tina Geygan.
“I am very proud of Dazsha for making such great strides and pursuing her goals,” says Principal Geygan.
Summit Academy Warren Secondary Valedictorian Timothy Bradford reflects on the interconnectedness and interdependence theme of his Class of 2023 commencement, symbolized by a tree at which the 2023 graduates congregated.
“Like a tree we grow and sprout from what we used to be,” Bradford says.
Performance Coach Catherine “Carey” Anderson, LSW, says she hopes the seniors’
memories of their times together at the tree will prompt them to think about the tree of life. “It remains a powerful reminder that our own health and happiness are tied with the health and happiness of all living beings,” she says.
Such personalized sentiments and words of encouragement will be woven into all 12 Summit Academy graduation ceremonies, scheduled to take place as follows:
Summit Academy Secondary School – Akron
Thursday, May 11, 6 p.m.
464 South Hawkins, Akron
Showcasing music by the Summit Academy Steel Drum Band and senior musicians
Summit Academy Secondary School – Canton
Thursday, May 18, 5 p.m.
Summit Academy – Canton Elementary/St. Mary 1620 Market Avenue South, Canton
Featuring guest speaker and suicide prevention expert Cyrus Ausar who will present “Growing into Greatness”
Summit Academy Transition High School – Columbus
Friday, May 26, 6 p.m.
2521 Fairwood Avenue, Columbus
Summit Academy Transition High School – Cincinnati
Thursday, May 18, 6 p.m.
St. Clare Parish, 1443 Cedar Avenue, Cincinnati
Summit Academy Transition High School – Dayton
Thursday, May 25, 6 p.m.
251 Erdiel Drive, Dayton
Summit Academy School – Lorain
Thursday, May 18, 6 p.m.
346 Illinois Avenue, Lorain (school gymnasium)
Summit Academy Secondary School – Middletown
Friday, May 26, 5 p.m.
3029 Yankee Road, Middletown
Summit Academy Community School – Parma
Wednesday, May 24, 6:30 p.m.
5868 Stumph Road, Parma
Summit Academy – Toledo
Thursday, May 25, 5:30 p.m.
Maumee Indoor Theater
601 Conant St, Maumee
Summit Academy School for Alternative Learners – Warren Secondary
Thursday, May 18, 1 p.m.
Regeneration Church
1128 State Road NW, Warren
Ceremony will reflect on interconnectedness and interdependence, symbolized by a special tree at which the seniors gathered, climbed, bonded and shared.
Summit Academy Secondary School – Youngstown
Wednesday, May 24, 5 p.m.
2800 Shady Run Road, Youngstown
Benediction by Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown
Summit Academy – Xenia
Thursday, May 18, 6 p.m.
1694 Pawnee Drive, Xenia