Passport Academy Graduation Celebrates 84 Students Walking Across the Stage

"When you find your dream through the doors that were open for you, make sure leave a crack in the door for the person coming behind you. And make sure that it says welcome, and you can do it. And make sure you find your way back to us." ​

PACS works with high school students who have previously struggled in other learning environments to create an individualized plan for high school and post graduation success, whether that means college, a vocational program or a career path. PACS students often come to the school ​ having faced challenges in other educational settings. Their second (and sometimes third) chance at graduation can be complicated, and the hands-on support and guidance from PACS staff offer a path toward futures they otherwise might not have had. The school offers flexible schedules, personalized learning approaches, and support from Pennsylvania-certified teachers. Graduates from this spring’s class are moving into a wide variety of areas, including the energy sector, welding and community college.

Industrial Arts Workshop, Bloomfield Garfield Corporation, A’s Vision and Carnegie Robotics each sponsored a Community Impact Award for graduating seniors. The award winners each excelled in completing the senior project experience and demonstrated a higher level of understanding for one of the community impact components, which include empowerment, entrepreneurship, career-readiness, post-secondary readiness and leadership.

In addition to the Community Impact Awards, two graduates received Student of the Year Awards. ​ Bruce Allen, the afternoon session recipient and recipient of the Carnegie Robotics Community Impact Award, worked diligently to complete his degree while caring for his mother, who had complications with an ongoing illness. He also participated in Carnegie Mellon University's Smart Manufacturing and Robotics Training, a pre-apprenticeship program to to develop skills required of robotics technicians.

“As the principal of Passport Academy, I am proud to celebrate all of our graduates,” said Joe Oliphant, principal of PACS. I’ve made it my goal to learn each of their stories over the course of their time here, and they’ve done something truly impressive, something they didn’t always think they could do. They’ve graduated high school. It’s a major achievement.”