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90 students honored at PTEC graduation
By SHARON L. BOND
Published May 19, 2005
PINELLAS PARK - Ross Cassidy attended Northeast High School in St. Petersburg for two years "with no success at all." On Wednesday night, however, the 19-year-old graduated from Pinellas Technical Education Centers with training in television production.
"It feels great knowing that I've done something I never thought I could do," said Cassidy, who attended the St. Petersburg campus of PTEC for three years. He said the smaller classes and teachers' attention made the difference.
Cassidy was one of 90 students who graduated before a nearly full auditorium at Pinellas Park High School. Keynote speaker Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg, urged graduates to use what they have learned to improve the world:
"It will be your hands that will make this a better place," he said.
About 40 of the graduates were from the Clearwater and St. Petersburg PTEC teams, programs that take students such as Cassidy and guide them to a high school degree. The other 50 were graduates of the adult program who completed job training in fields ranging from plumbing to culinary arts.
Alvin Jones Jr., 27, graduated after eight months of training in plumbing. A 1996 Gibbs High graduate, he returned to school at PTEC to fulfill a promise to his mother and grandmother, both deceased, who wanted him to continue his education - and also for his wife and 3-year-old son.
"It feels great," Jones said before the ceremony started. "I'm going down and get my certificate in front of my little son."
[Last modified May 19, 2005, 06:34:02]
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