NEWS

Pioneer Center celebrates graduation

Sara Nealeigh
Reporter

CHILLICOTHE – Chris Miner has been going to the Pioneer Center regularly since he was 31/2 years old, as well as on and off since he was about 9 months old. And on Wednesday morning, he graduated.

His mother died years ago and his father, Steven Miner, has been raising Chris Miner as a single parent since then.

“It’s a pretty big day,” Steven Miner said.

As class president, Chris Miner was able to address the audience that had gathered to watch the seven young men graduate.

“Now, I’m graduating from a wonderful school,” he said as he gave a thumbs up to his fellow graduates.

Because it was one of the largest graduating classes from the Pioneer Center, the staff took the time to personalize the ceremony for the graduates. Teachers wrote memories and lessons learned from the students to commemorate their time at the center. Teacher Josh Tripp shared memories of the fellow students.

“Chris Miner will be missed. Other students will come and go, but there will never be another Chris,” Tripp said.

One of the shared memories involved a song performed at the ceremony. Earlier this year, the sign choir director removed an old, familiar song from the group’s playlist. Chris Miner was not a fan of the fact one of his favorite songs was missing, and he started a petition at the school to put the song back on the list. The school’s sign choir performed “Turn Around” one last time in his honor.

According to his father, Chris Miner will go on to work at Goodwill or the First Capitol Workshop following graduation.

“There’s a lot of hard work these young men have endured to get to this level,” retiring Superintendent Rick Marriott said of the graduates before handing each one their diplomas. “I look forward to seeing their future.”