Published: June 27, 2009 10:13 pm      

Transition graduates celebrate success

Carey Services program marks another year of accomplishments

What better way to celebrate the graduating high school than with a graduation party?

And so it was for five area high school graduates who gathered for a celebration Thursday at the Church of the Nazarene. Making it even more of a celebration was that each one was a participant with the transition services program at Carey Services.

Dawn Rector, Carey Services transition liaison, said it was important to recognize the students she worked with over the past year.

“I think every student deserves a graduation party,” Rector said. “Some of the students don’t have the opportunity to have one. It’s just an opportunity to get together, network with other students and work on social skills.”

Rector also feels it is important for each student to earn recognition for their hard work and successes.

Those in attendance included Caston High School graduate Jessica Lovell, Pioneer graduate Dawn Murphy and Logansport High School graduates Jessica Lewis, Cory Cossart and Andrew Bowles.

Lewis plans to attend Ivy Tech in Indianapolis for culinary school. She hopes to open her own restaurant one day. She became involved with the program to help with applying for college, filling out paperwork and signing up for classes.

“I feel like I’m better prepared,” she said.

Lovell is planning on becoming a nurse. She participated in the program to help with college and dealing with a stress problem. The program has taught her how to talk to others about how she feels. Eventually, Lovell would like to work with special-needs children.

Cossart would like to find a career with working on computers. He thought the program helped him, especially on how to look for jobs. He also enjoyed participating in the “Build Me Keep Me,” which allowed him to build a computer and receive a laptop. He is now looking to find an internship.

Bowles is joining the Navy and plans to become a medic, specializing in trauma.

Murphy is hoping for a career in photography. She became involved with the program after receiving a letter in the mail. Murphy said it helped her with leadership skills.

“I’m excited to go to college and get out on my own and see what the real world is like,” she said.

Carey Services offers services to people with known diagnosed mental and physical disabilities. The goal of the transition services program is to help each high school student gain self-sufficiency and transition smoothly to the next part of their lives.

Referrals for the program are received from the Department of Family and Social Services Agency. The Vocational Rehabilitation Services provides the clients for Carey Services as well as the grant funding the transition program.

“The program wouldn’t be possible without them,” Rector said.

Since the program was started, Rector said she is compassionate about her job. She believes it is necessary to offer support for each student to become successful in life.

Rector has mixed feelings about the students moving on.

“It makes me feel happy and it makes me feel sad,” she said. “I really care about these kids. It’s really hard to let go, but I’ll follow up with them.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com