When Stephanie Cameron took the podium to sing Adele’s “Hold On” in the Powell High School Auditorium on Sunday, it highlighted a moment of triumph for the 2025 graduating classes of the Shoshone Learning Center and Park 1 Virtual Academy.

The SLC and P1VA graduated 19 students and three students respectively.

“This song has a great message that helped me endure through the struggles of my life when I never thought I’d be able to even graduate,” said Cameron, an SLC student. “But here I am, because I stayed true to myself in the moment.”

Preceding her was commencement speaker Amy Moore, an English teacher for the SLC, P1VA, Powell High School and a co-teacher of the night school program. 

Moore also spoke to perseverance, sharing her own story of senior year, when the kindness and compassion from others got her to the finish line. 

“No matter how hard your circumstances, be compassionate … you can carry with you from your school years work ethic, wisdom and perseverance,” Moore said. “But, make room in your lives for friendship, loyalty, love and compassion — even for those who you don’t know — this is the recipe for a happy life, and you have the power within you to make it.”

Jade Ward, a member of the SLC’s graduating class, reminded the students of the good times and the hard work of the staff who got them onto the stage.

“I speak with pride when I say I graduated from SLC, and I am beyond appreciative to get to consider myself a part of this day. This school helped me find my passion for education and literature,” Ward said.

She is graduating as someone the staff can be proud of, Ward said, and shouted out some school records. While some were in jest, others highlighted the students’ impressive achievements like the fastest completion of a semester of English 2, English 3 and English 4.

A slide show reminded the students of how far they’ve come, just before recognition of their achievements. 

“One of the many joys of working at a truly special school like the SLC is that we get a whole new group of unique students each year … the way that I would label this group is fiercely independent,” Coordinator Shannon Blackmore said.

At the SLC level just over half of these students met graduation requirements by February.

She then announced the scholarships, certifications and other achievements earned by students. Blackmore was followed by DeAnne Jensen, the coordinator and counselor at P1VA, who did the same. 

Then it was time to walk across the stage, shake hands and accept the hard earned diploma.

“Today is a day of celebration, the dreams that seemed so far off, so hard to see and grasp you’ve now achieved it,” Steve Lensegrav, Powell High School’s assistant principal, said to vigorous applause. “You did it.”