Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  The largest graduating class in Chinook West history received their diplomas on Friday, May 20. In fact, the Class of 2016 was so big, with 12 graduates, that the commencement ceremony was moved to the Nederland Community Center auditorium to accommodate the seniors and their families.

Chinook West has come a long way, baby.

The first graduating class consisted of seven students. The event was held in the student living room and the seniors sat on couches in front of the makeshift stage. There were no diplomas. The potluck reception afterward, however, was delicious.

The only part of that description that hasn’t changed is the couches. Some traditions die hard. The TEENS Inc. couches were transported to the NCC on Friday and arranged in front of the stage. The students made themselves comfortable as teachers and administrators talked about them and their journey through Nederland’s alternative school. There was a time when some of them felt there wasn’t much hope that they would ever graduate.

Chinook Executive Director, Stephen LeFaiver, welcomed the guests and told them that each of the graduates had taken risks in the past year. They filled out college applications, reached their goals, overcame obstacles and completed everything necessary to graduate from high school. LeFaiver said that Chinook is a community school, with many partners, and Boulder Valley School District is one of the most significant.

BVSD Superintendent, Dr. Bruce Messinger spoke to the graduates telling them they were ready for the next step and to take that step with confidence and pride.

LeFaiver donned last year’s graduation present, a baseball cap, and looked like one of the guys as he introduced the keynote speaker and former TEENS Inc. Executive Director, Kristin Aslan, who was one of the original founders of the facility.

She told the graduates that she believed in each of them. “You are proof that you can be whatever you want.”

Board member Patricia Schrader presented each graduate with the Chinook traditional graduation gift: a copy of Dr. Seuss’s, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.

The Chinook teachers then brought up the students and talked a bit about each of them. Justin Butterworth told John Brokos that John’s transformation was why he liked his job. He told Aaron Robillard that he had a deep, critical mind and was prepared for whatever came his way. Robillard agreed he was ready to start the next chapter.

Althea Schelling introduced Avery Maher, who has been attending Colorado Mountain College since January and says she wants to have a career in wilderness therapy, knowing how much getting out and doing things with Chinook helped her.

Jonathan Baumhover presented Justin Thunder Hart with his diploma, saying Justin was skilled at taking naps and had the ability to adapt to any situation in a unique and original way, that his carefree presence and good cheer is infectious.  Baumhover said Steven Erikson knows who he is and is unapologetic, and at the same time one of the most caring people he has ever met.

Bill Pollock introduced Soren Holmgren, who is already taking art classes at Naropa. Soren thanked his parents for supporting him as a creative individual. “I couldn’t imagine better parents than they are.”

Pollock also presented Jade Perez, Dante White Calf, and Chris McDonald their diplomas. Dante said, “In Chinook, I found a place that accepted me and listened to me. I did not feel like a kid or a student here, I felt like a peer with the teachers. Because of Chinook I have a brighter future. Pollock said that Chris McDonald had a way big heart and was someone who always took responsibility for his actions.

Stefani Davidson gave Cass Moseley her diploma, saying that Chinook teachers never gave up on her and put up with constant complaints.

Andrea Bianchi presented Ray Seeman with his award, describing him as independent, free thinking and artistic, the creator of the upstairs wall mural.

Seeman said that he saw the life and felt the life. “I have struggled to be here. I wasn’t able to find I what needed before. On this day that we celebrate ourselves, we should thank others.”

Vanessa Eaton introduced Hiatt Franck and gave him his diploma and then Randy Sachter presented Franck with a $1,000 Randy Sachter Robotics Scholarship so he could continue his academic pursuit.

It was a proud moment for many parents as they watched their children become adults; a journey that seemed to take forever and, at the same time, seemed to have gone by in a flash. A long journey that was made one step at a time.