Forty-one students will be graduating from Portland Adult Education’s program on Thursday,, June 27th at Merrill Auditorium, Portland.  The 176th class members range in age from teenagers to senior citizens.  They have not followed a traditional path to high school graduation for many reasons.

But here are some facts that they do have in common:

MORE than 42% of the class plans to head straight to college; MOST of the graduates are employed and preparing for career adavancement; SEVEN graduates not only earned a diploma this year, but also have previously completed PAE certificates to work in fields like energy, banking and health care.

The two speakers at the ceremony are:  TIAGO AUGUSTO, originally from Angola, plans a career as a bank teller; and ESTHER CHIZOBA NNEKE, originally from Nigeria, plans a career in healthcare.