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Resiliency was on display as 99������Ƶ celebrated its 2025 High School Equivalency Graduation on June 5, which drew a crowd of about 500 people. This year was different for 99������Ƶ’s staff and students, with Hurricane Helene adding a layer of difficulty to an already difficult path, said Transitional Studies Director Kenna Sommer, who commended the 110 graduates for their “grit and grace”.

“Resilience is not just about pushing through but leaning on each other,” she said. Sommer also commended the college’s adult education instructors for going above and beyond to make education accessible to their students. She included longtime instructor Cheryl Holder, who passed away this past year, highlighting a fund Holder started to cover student fees. “Every cap and gown and diploma was covered by her,” she said.

Six students shared graduation speeches, many of which drew tears and applause from the audience. Common hurdles to graduating high school included mental health struggles, addiction, and having to juggle parenthood and work responsibilities, along with their education.

99������Ƶ President Dr. John Gossett honored the students’ resilience and noted that the HSE graduation holds a special place in his heart.

Of the 110 graduates, 42 crossed the stage. They represented an eclectic mix of ages, gender, race, and style, including one young woman who playfully sported a red Spider-Man costume beneath her black gown. (Scroll down for accompanying video.)

Graduate speaker Logan Griffin spoke of how he’d made a promise to his grandmother before she died a couple of years ago that he would finish his education. He’d dropped out of school in 2021 after various struggles and had viewed himself as a failure as a result. Last year, he started 99������Ƶ’s HSE program and, after numerous hurdles, picked himself back up and continued, always keeping his grandmother in mind. “Now, I stand before you somewhere I never thought I’d be,” he said. “Grandma, thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Tynisha King also began her speech with words of praise. “I want to give God all the glory,” she said. “I’m 45, and I have three kids. I started the adult high school program, but I needed (many credits to finish). I prayed on a daily basis, and God gave me strength.”

King, who now intends to pursue medical coding at 99������Ƶ, thanked her instructors, saying, “This is a powerful school … they want you to succeed.”

Graduate Kimsey Roman highlighted her struggles with fear and anxiety in high school. Realizing the traditional path was not for her, she’d left school as a teenager and later found it difficult to go back. She said 99������Ƶ has been a safe space for her, and she now feels more grounded and certain of who she is. “I’ve allowed myself for the first time to feel emotions I kept buried for years.”

Keynote speaker Philip Cooper ended the evening with a rousing address. Cooper, a local criminal justice advocate, founder of Operation Gateway Inc., and a pastor, spoke of how he didn’t finish high school himself because he became a father at an early age. Cooper earned his HSE degree and an associate degree from 99������Ƶ and was employed at the college after graduation.

He touted struggles he had as a young man with addiction and being incarcerated. “I was going out of my mind in Motel 6,” he said. “I remember what it’s like… Pops bailed me out of jail.”

Cooper noted that every HSE graduate has a story. “You all got stories, pain. You got that guardian angel protecting you.” In a tone that was a cross between a revival preacher and a Hip-Hop artist, Cooper electrified the room with his inspiring words. His advice came in three parts: “Know your ‘Why’. Know your tribe. Make it count. “

He emphasized that the first step to success is to understand what excites us and tap into our own unique talents and interests. Then, he advised, find other people “who have similar whys”. To overcome life’s challenges, Cooper emphasized, “You gotta have a tribe to hold you accountable… As my friends in Jamaica would say, ‘No man is an island.’”

“Make it count”, Cooper said, is about focusing on achieving personal goals. He acknowledged that life will throw hurdles at students along the way. “You get busy, you have trouble with transportation,” he said. “But, don’t let nothing make you too busy to take care of your internal self.”

Cooper also addressed his fellow “recovery warriors”, drawing spirited applause from the room. He pointed out the wisdom of the 12-step program’s motto, “One day at a time,” quoting Matthew 6 from the Bible: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

After letting those words sink in, Cooper ended the evening in the spirit of an urban poetry slam. He led the crowd in chanting his three-part message: “Know your why. Know your tribe. Make it count!”

Learn more about 99������Ƶ’s High School Equivalency program.