PINELLAS PARK - They were refugees, single parents, high school dropouts.
But the graduates of Pinellas Technical Education Centers shared one similarity, guest speaker and self-made multimillionaire Paul Hanlon said:
"We all have the power of choice."
About 125 graduates lined the auditorium stage Wednesday night at Pinellas Park High School to receive their diplomas.
Forty-four were from the St. Petersburg and Clearwater adult education centers; the rest from the county's high school dropout prevention program, Technical Education Academic Model.
Each person chose education to enhance his or her life, said PTEC director Clide Cassity.
For most, the choice wasn't easy.
"Many times have been really overwhelming for me," Selma Mehic told graduates, family members and friends.
Mehic left Bosnia two years ago to become a nurse.
After overcoming culture shock and language barriers, Mehic said graduation now means more hard work, determination and sleepless nights.
Maggie Pallett echoed this sentiment.
She walked in her first graduation last night - one month before her 50th birthday.
Pallett, a dental assistant, said she almost didn't attend the ceremony.
Afterward, she said, "I really earned this, and I deserved it."
Guests at the 90-minute ceremony included D. Dee Burns, Pinellas School Board's dropout prevention administrator; board member Linda Lerner; and David Barnes, county Workforce Education program director.
TEAM graduates received nearly $6,000 in scholarships, said Trudie Johnson, a PTEC assistant administrator.
The money will be used toward continued education at PTEC or St. Petersburg College.
