Learning Center celebrates graduation

Two earned certified nursing aide certification before they graduated. Four others have scholarships in hand to continue their education.

Still, there are decisions to be made about the future for the 10 graduates of the Fremont Learning Center.

“Each of you graduates this evening have something in common with me,” Gary Bolton, Learning Center administrator, told the graduates Thursday evening. “I’m wrapping up a 37-year career with Fremont Public Schools; I’m retiring. ... So each of us -- all of you graduates and me -- we all have that same question: What do I do now with the rest of my life?”

For graduate Jordan Limmer, winner of the Learning Center’s Community Service Award, that is taking automotive classes with a dream to eventually own a shop that specializes in customizing cars.

Limmer put in 69 hours of service -- well above the required

10 hours. His work includes designing and painting the window displays at Office Net in downtown Fremont.

As a group, the Learning Center graduates more than doubled their community service hours with a total of 215 hours. Those hours were donated at various locations such as Low Income Ministry, Keene Memorial Library and Howard Elementary School.

What lies ahead for Alyssa Nelson is studying for an aquatics management degree.

Nelson won the Learning

Center’s Vocation Award, averaging the most hours worked while attending school. Learning Center students are required to work 15 hours per week if they are older than 16. As a class, the 10 students worked 2,809 hours.

Limmer and Nelson also were among the four scholarship winners in the class. Both earned Board of Governors Scholarships from Metropolitan Community College, which covers half tuition. Nelson also was the winner of the R.C. Harris Noon Optimist Club Scholarship worth $500.

In addition, Caroline Bendig and Jose Ortiz Jr. won Presidential Scholarships from Metro, which covers full tuition.

“I know the Learning Center has prepared you with a set of skills to go out and accomplish good things,” Bolton told the graduates.

What happens in the future is up to the students.

“You are the one from here on out who will have to decide, you will make choices, as to what you want to do with the rest of your life. And what you choose to do, it is your choice,” he said.

“You will become what you will become because of the choices you make,” Bolton added. “I would advise you to do this: Think carefully as you make these choices in your life.”

He also congratulated the students for their efforts.

“You’ve worked very hard,” Bolton said. “You’ve put in a lot of time. You’ve taken the road less traveled. And you absolutely deserve every honor this evening by being a graduate of the learning center. I commend you for your hard work.”