BUCKNER FAMILY PLACE HOLDS CEREMONY FOR GRADUATES

The ceremony held Thursday by Buckner Family Place for its graduating residents wasn’t just to commemorate their academic achievements.

It was a time for acknowledging the obstacles those young ladies faced to get to the graduation stage. Somehow balancing the trials of single motherhood with a class and work schedule, they’ve managed to obtain degrees in various fields of study.

With several members of the Buckner Advisory Committee and other supporters from the community on hand, the institution known for rebuilding lives recognized 15 residents who have graduated, or are about to graduate, the program.

Jessica Sears earned her AS in Business Leading to a BBA and will transfer to Stephen F. Austin University. She said the program turned out to exceed her expectations.

“You don’t expect the program to be all that it is,” Sears said. “But when you see all the help they offer, from helping with your kids to pushing you to completing your education to teaching you life skills, it’s more help than anyone can ever know.

“They teach you self-sufficiency, and how to take care of you and your family first.”

Some of the grads had their children present with them for the ceremony, a fact guest speaker Dr. Larry Phillips, President of Angelina College, chose to point out.

“You’re not just graduating college for yourself,” Phillips told the residents. “You’re setting an example for your own children. Someday, when they’ve reached college age, you will have the opportunity and ability to show them how to achieve their own goals.”

Buckner Family Place offers opportunities for young women in need, including housing, daycare and a college tuition plan. Residents are required to keep a certain GPA to continue the program.

According to Brenda Dunn, Program Director, those rigid requirements are what set the Buckner residents apart from typical students.

“I really believe these students have a true resiliency and commitment required to finish this program. We provide the map; but they’re the ones who still have to care for their children – and all that entails – while completing their studies.

“What they accomplish is remarkable.”

Minerva Palomino is a Buckner alumnus who will graduate SFA this spring with a BSW in Social Work; she said the path from start to finish is cloudy at first, but becomes clearer with time.

“It’s hard to envision when you first start the program that you’ll actually graduate college one day,” former resident Minerva Palomino said. “It doesn’t really hit you until you’re walking across the stage that every step you’ve taken to this point had a purpose, and it’s only going to make your life better.

“It was all worth it.”

Residents honored at Thursday’s ceremony included Sears; Amanda Goad (Licensed Vocational Nurse); Tammy Mistrot (LVN); Danielle Pilot (AAS in Office Administration); Sara Goss (AS in Biology); Shana Wise (AS in Business Leading to BBA); Sarah Ecker (Radiology Technology); and a group of students transferring to SFA: Chloe Archangel (AS in Business Leading to BBA), Jonte’ Martin (AA in Early Childhood Education) and Vae’Eshia Ratcliff (AA in Education).

Former residents graduating SFA included Palomino and Amanda Huckabee, who earned a BAAS in Criminal Justice.
 

SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT – Buckner Family Place on Thursday honored these graduates with a ceremony marking their achievements. Pictured are (front row, L-R) Sarah Ecker and Jessica Sears; (middle, L-R) Vae’Eshia Ratcliff, Hillary Palomino (daughter of Minerva Palomino) and Tammy Pope; and (back, L-R): Amanda Huckabee and Minerva Palomino.

 

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