TURNER – River Valley Adult Education and River Valley School, Greene, Leeds and Turner, graduated 26 students on June 17 at Leavitt Area High School auditorium.

Village Caterers in Turner prepared a supper prior to the ceremony at which time Director Bette J. Swett-Thibeault was honored. John Jenkins, teacher at the school, was master of ceremony. Other members of the staff, Nancy Baker and Carol Ham, participated in the tribute, along with Thibeault’s son, Paul, his wife, Melinda, and her grandson, Samuel.

More than 200 attended the graduation of the following students:

Adult Education: Audrey Bean, Dannielle Brown, Gerald Burgess Jr., Christina Dill, Tyler Dow, Robert Eichelberger, Anthony Ferriola, Tracy Gagnon, Michelle Goodson, Joshua Hutchinson, Nathan Joyner, Zachary Maheux, Kaylee McEachern, Aaron Michaud, Erica Newell, Roger Pelletier, Amanda Pooley, Eric Ross, Daniel Turner, Seth Turner.

River Valley School: Nicholas Letourneau, Tawyna Morissette, Amber Storer, Joshua Thibeault.

Awards were presented by the director and staff members, Carol Ham, Kelly Cabral, Richard French, Louis Dineen, Tonja Jacobs, Razell Ward.

Jenkins was speaker for the evening. He spoke about A Lesson On Life, using life as an acronym for these thoughts: Leader, Inspired, Focused, Ethical, on which he elaborated in his speech.

The band Continuum played for the graduates. Paul Thibeault, a former teacher of music at River Valley School, played an original piece titled, “Chasing Money.”

Awards and scholarships went to: Amber Storer for Tenacity, History and Science. Tawyna Morissette received the art award. Nicholas Letourneau received the Miller Family scholarship for “Reaching the Finish Line.” A Family Academic Award was presented to Joshua and Theresa Thibeault from the Miller Family scholarship. Joshua completed his high school diploma early, and his mother completed her C.D.A. degree late this spring.

Two new awards went to junior class members Shane Dineen, a student from Livermore Falls High School and Heather White for outstanding academic performance.

Adult students received scholarships and recognition in the following areas: Adult Education Director’s Award, Tracy Gagnon; Tenacity Award, Amanda Pooley, which had scholarship money from the Ramona Heikkinen Fund; Achievement of Goals Award , Eric Ross, who had received both his G.E.D. diploma and high school diploma this year; Lacie Currier, Courage to Grow Award given by Central Maine Community College.

Academic Awards went to Tyler Dow and Steve Daly for English, Lacie Currier for English and Culinary Arts, Tony Ferriola for Science, Seth Turner for Art, and Joshua Hutchinson for extraordinary work on the Powerpoint presentation at the graduation.

Danny Turner received acknowledgment for the Board of Directors participation this academic year.

Community members were also acknowledged for their support of River Valley School and Adult Education. Jeff and Karen Ward of Karen’s Driving School received acknowledgment for donations to the scholarship fund. Eric Hunt, a former RVS student was applauded for this work with students during the refurbishing of the kitchen used by Culinary Arts, and all employees and students in the building. Bernie Turner, although unable to attend, was honored for his support of this project.