Durham Public Schools graduations will crank up this week, beginning Monday, June 12 with commencement for the School of Creative Studies (SCS) and the Performance Learning Center (PLC).
Both commencements will be held at Riverside High School.
The SCS will kick things off at 9 a.m., and be followed by the PLC ceremony at 12:30 p.m.,
The Class of 2017 will be the first graduating class for SCS.
Commencement excercises for DPS’ six traditional high schools will begin Tuesday, June 13 when thousands of family members, friends and other well-wishers flock to Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium through Wednesday June 14 to celebrate the graduation of nearly 2,000 DPS seniors.
It is sure to be a bittersweet occasion for Superintendent Bert L’Homme who will retire in August, which means DPS’ classes of 2017 will be the last to have their diplomas signed by L’Homme.
The Riverside High School graduation Tuesday at 1 p.m., is certain to be a joyous occasion for Wildin Acosta, a native of Honduras and former Riverside student, who found himself on the brink of deportation last year.
Acosta, who eventually was allowed to remain in the U.S., finished his course work in December, but opted to participate in June’s graduation ceremony instead of winter commencement that was held in January.
This week marks the second wave of graduations for DPS.
Last month, nearly 400 students received diplomas from DPS’ four specialty high schools.
Here’s a look at this week’s commencement calendar for DPS schools. Note that scholarship-figure reporting varies from school to school. Some schools include all offers of scholarship money, some only scholarships accepted and some do not include athletic scholarship offers while others do.
School for Creative Studies
When: 9 a.m., Monday, June 12
Where: Riverside High School
Speakers: Valedictorian, Alexandra Gaines; Salutatorian, Shemayah Myrtle-B Hart.
Graduates: 55
Notable: This will be the school’s first graduating class ... SCS seniors have earned more than $150,000 in scholarships.
Performance Learning Center
When: 12:30 a.m., Monday, June 12
Where: Riverside High School
Speaker: William Elmore, motivational speaker
Graduates: 52
Southern School of Energy and Sustainability
When: 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 13
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University
Speakers: Student Body President Keiyonda Crowder; Valedictorian, Bobby Fuller; Salutatorian, Joelle Dvorak; Remarks, Principal Jerome Leathers.
Graduates: 285
Notable: Seniors have accepted nearly $800,000 in scholarships.
Riverside High School
When: 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 13
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University
Speakers: Valedictorian, Aaron Balleisen; Salutatorian, Brennan Pitts; Senior Class President, Daniel Elmenshawi; Student Body President, Chloe Hogan.
Graduates: 400
Notable: Honduran immigrant Wildin Acosta who was nearly deported last year, will be among the graduates. ... Riverside seniors earned nearly $1.9 million in scholarships.
Jordan High School
When: 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 13
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University
Speakers: Valedictorian, Irene Zhang; Salutatorian, Alana Michelle Fiordalisi; Student Body President, Fana Haile-Selassie, Senior Class President, Olivia Rodriguez, Remarks, Principal Susan Taylor
Graduates: 400
Notable: Jordan’s seniors earned more than $4 million in scholarships.
Hillside High School
When: 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 14
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University
Speakers: Valedictorian, Jiana Brown; Salutatorian, Adrianne Lyons; Welcome, Student Government President John Batey; Remarks, Principal William Logan
Graduates: 272
Notable: The Hillside senior class has earned $18.1 million in scholarship offers, 79 percent based on academics.
Northern High School
When: 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 14
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University
Speakers: Valedictorian, Corbin Bryan; Salutatorian, Carl Fowler; Student Body President, Summer Clifford; Senior Class President, Sam Harding
Graduates: 297
Notable: Northern’s seniors have earned about $2 million in scholarships to date.
Durham School of the Arts
When: 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 14
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University
Speakers: Valedictorian, Eugen Craciunescu; Salutatorian, John “Jack” Swansey; Introduction of Speakers, Reuben Tacas; Opener, Maria Hernandez Cortes; Closer, Raquel Bullock.
Graduates: 220
Notable: DSA seniors earned $3.33 million in scholarships.
Greg Childress: 919-419-6645, @gchild6645
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