ASHVILLE – Recently, staff and administrators from the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES and several of its component school districts throughout southern and central Chautauqua County honored 18 graduating high school seniors enrolled in Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Alternative and Special Education programs housed at the Hewes Educational Center in Ashville and Chautauqua Lake Central Schools in Mayville.

“Today is a day for celebrating the hard work and perseverance of these students,” said C. Adam Padd, alternative and special education supervisor at the Hewes Center. “The ability of BOCES to coordinate skills and efforts between all entities for the good of the child is a key factor in student success. It is my pleasure to introduce these students as the 2015 graduating class.”

The graduates were able to attend Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Alternative and Special Education programs through the participation of their home school districts: Chautauqua Lake, Falconer, Frewsburg, Jamestown, Ripley, Sherman and Southwestern, all of which are component school districts of Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES.

Also in attendance honoring the graduates were Dr. David O’Rourke, district superintendent for Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES; Suzette Benson, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instructional services; Kevin Bourgoine, special education supervisor at the Chautauqua Lake site; as well as individual school district representatives, families and friends.

Graduates are as follows, broken down by school district:

Bemus Point Central School – John Baker

Chautauqua Lake Central School – Trevor Grover, Derek Hubbell, Charles Lewis, Mary Parmarter, Luke Shaul, Luke Skelly

Falconer Central School – Christina McElwain, Doug Lewis

Jamestown High School – Tyler Gernatt, Khristina King, Arturo Rodriguez

Ripley Central School – Dylan Bryte, Anthony Luke

Sherman Central School – Reed Coccarelli

Southwestern Central School – Megan Johnson, Alanna Linkous, Donavan Paquette

Alanna Linkous was also awarded the second annual Robert S. Guiffreda Memorial Scholarship. The award, created by the Erie 2 BOCES Health and Wellness Committee, is named for Robert S. Guiffreda, past Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaragus BOCES district superintendent. It is given to students who demonstrate scholarship, academic achievement, dedication to lifelong learning, community service, and leadership.

“We are extremely pleased with the efforts shown by these students and also demonstrated by their families,” Bourgoine said. “Graduation takes more than just student effort, and we’d like to thank everyone involved in making this day possible, including the teachers, classroom support staff, counselors and related service providers.”

For more information on Erie 2 BOCES programs, visit www.e2ccb.org.