2 graduate from North Pointe
Published 10:32 am Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Dowagiac’s Anthony Davis (PICTURED) and Amanda Shouse graduated from the Lewis Cass ISD’s North Pointe Center program Friday. The two students had attended class at the special adult education program for several years. Among those congratulating the students that afternoon was ISD Superintendent Robert Colby, who presented them with their diplomas.
(Leader photos/TED YOAKUM)
For Dowagiac’s Anthony Davis, receiving a diploma from the Lewis Cass ISD North Pointe wasn’t in the cards for him just several years ago.
Upon first attending classes as the facility, Davis came in with a bit of a bad attitude, falling asleep during instruction, showing up late or not at all, said his instructor, Molly High.
Eventually, the issues escalated to the point where he stopped coming to North Pointe altogether, High said.
“The problem was, he had a dream,” High said. “He had goals. But the dreams and goals that he had got squashed. The biggest of these was earning a diploma.”
Not wanting to let that dream fade into fantasy, Davis eventually called his teacher, telling her he wanted to resume his classes and achieve this goal, and to begin living independently.
On Friday, Davis finally turned his desire into reality.
That afternoon, Davis and Amanda Shouse, also of Dowagiac, received their diplomas from North Pointe, Lewis Cass’ learning program for adults with disabilities. Dozens of their family members, friends and classmates packed inside the facility, located at the intersection of Front and Prairie Ronde streets, that day to congratulate the two for completing the program.
Among those delivering remarks during Friday’s ceremony was Susan Reynolds, the ISD’s special education supervisor. The educator saw the two students’ achievement not as the end of their time with the academy, but as the beginning of their new, more-independent lives, she said.
“Now you have the pencil,” Reynolds said. “Now you’re the one drawing the way. You’re the one making the decisions, not your teachers, not your families — you. This is up to you. It’s time for you to follow your own path.”
Also talking during the ceremony was teacher Eileen Weingarten, who has worked with Shouse for the past 10 years, she said. Currently working at Pizza Hut, the Dowagiac student has performed admirably in the jobs she has been given over the years, working at the center’s jobsites at the preschool and hospital, Weingarten said.
“It’s been a blessing to have somebody who is so accomplished and has evolved from such a shy, insecure little girl when I first got her into someone who is really, really, special,” Weingarten said.
