CLARK ADVANCED LEARNING CENTER STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH HEAD START ON COLLEGE AND CAREERS

STUART, FL – With a head start on college, expertise in the latest technology and real-world experience gained in business internships, 95 high school seniors will graduate from Clark Advanced Learning Center.  The A-rated high school for sophomores, juniors and seniors is located at the Chastain Campus of Indian River State College in Stuart.  The Graduation Ceremony will be held on May 27 at 10 a.m. at the Jensen Beach High School Wellness Center/Gymnasium at 2875 Northwest Goldenrod Road in Jensen Beach.

A public charter high school, the Clark Advanced Learning Center has earned the highest scores on the Treasure Coast on Florida’s school grading system and is among the top ten high schools in Florida.  The Clark affords students with the opportunity to earn high school and college credits tuition free through dual enrollment with the convenience and resources of a college campus.  As a result, students graduate with their high school diploma and a year or more of college completed.  Often students choose to continue at IRSC, with 27 Clark graduates attending IRSC in the fall with college credits already completed.

Sixty-one percent of the senior class, 58 students, will graduate from Clark with an Associate degree from IRSC, enabling them to continue their studies as juniors at the college or university level.  Eight students will be continuing at IRSC in Bachelor’s Degree programs: Ashleigh Devaney in Nursing, Shawn Fors in Accounting, Isabelle Galland in Public Administration, Gi’Ana Gilbert in Business Administration, Jeffrey Keyser in Criminal Justice, Austin Oliver in Business Administration, Dayeli Ramos Vallecillo in Biology, and Rose Stritzinger in Biology.

Eric Elg and Sarah Wetterer will be honored as the Co-Valedictorians for their top achievement.  Elg will attend Florida Gulf Coast University, majoring in Forensic Science.  Wetterer will attend the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Astrophysics.  The co-salutatorians are Austin Oliver and Emily Stone.  Oliver will attend Indian River State College, majoring in Business Administration, and Stone will attend the University of Florida, majoring in Microbiology & Cell Science.  All four honorees will graduate with their Associate in Arts Degree as well as their high school diploma.

Luis Yanez, a graduate of the Clark class of 2009, will give the Commencement address.  He is currently working as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Room at Martin Health Systems and St. Lucie medical Center, and he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Nursing to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.  While at Clark, he was able to complete so many pre-requisites that he was the youngest person to graduate in his nursing class, and ultimately the youngest person working in the Martin Health Systems as an ER nurse.

Congratulatory remarks will be extended by Dr. Edwin R. Massey, IRSC President, and Laurie Gaylord, Martin County Superintendent of Schools.

The Clark Advanced Learning Center is a public charter high school offering academic and technology programs that meet the requirements for a high school diploma from the Martin County School District. Students attend free of charge for high school and college courses and books.   Graduates are ready to transfer to Indian River State College or transfer to a university. For more information about Clark Advanced Learning Center, visit www.clarkadvancedlearningcenter.org or call 772-419-5750.