Omega School graduates 75 in 2008

By Pamela Gates

With tears, whoops, hollers, and vigorous applause, Omega School's class of 2008, along with their families, their friends, and school staff and supporters, celebrated the achievement of 75 new GEDs (General Education Diplomas) or HSEDs (High School Equivalency Diplomas). The event — and it definitely was an event — took place in the Doyle Administration Building auditorium on June 18.
Omega School Principal Oscar Mireles, whose care for the students was obvious as he called each one forward and said something personal about him or her, emceed. Madison School Board member Beth Moss cheered the grads on, and CUNA Mutual's Steve Goldberg, who, Mireles said, "got more excited about Omega than I do!" presented a $1,000 Growing in the Right Direction scholarship to Destini Marshall.
Tom Swenson and Emily Kitzerow received $500 Founders Scholarships from a fund started by Steven Freedman and Toby Emmer, who established Omega GED Preparatory School 35 years ago. Precious LaShore received a $500 ROXY Spirit of Compassion scholarship.
Mireles invited many of the students to say a few words. Their comments and those of the official class speakers bear out some of the tremendous challenges these young people have faced and are facing as they become adults in our society. They also bear out the importance of a program like Omega in helping them meet these challenges and move on with their lives.
"It took me 16 years to come back [to school]," student speaker Aisha Redus said. "I went to Omega for two years … No matter how long it takes," she advised, "keep on striving!"
Lewis Olson acknowledged that he should have graduated years ago. He tried Omega in 2000, but wasn't able to stay with it. This time, in 2008, "when Oscar called to say I'd passed, I, too, broke into tears … We need nudges in our life. This program is a blessing."
"I started back in 2005," said Zack Lindrin, another student speaker. "… This past year, Oscar said he'd give me one more chance … You can achieve anything you want to achieve," he admonished his fellow grads, no doubt echoing Oscar's words to him over the years. "… Keep going, and do whatever you need to do to get ahead."
Student speaker Caitlin Pearl of DeForest encountered health and many other problems in high school, but enrolling in Omega got her through. "I thank Oscar for all the crap he gave me," she declared.
Student speaker Brianna McKnight thanked her daughter for keeping her motivated and the Omega staff for "encouraging me to keep my head up, because it will all work out for the best."
Student speaker Brittany LeMoine thanked her family — her mom, her friend, and most of all her son, Wyatt. "I wanted to show him that school's really important. I thank Oscar for encouraging me."
Before the ceremony, Brittany had told this reporter that "this is my [official] graduation year, and I'm really, really happy. Omega was easy for me, because I was able to bring my son. (Omega provides on-site child care). I only started going in March. I found a job shortly after starting at Omega."
Student speaker Michael Volt said: "I wasted about three years not going to school consistently. Now I have my GED, and I haven't been in trouble for a real long time. Now I work for a living. … Quit making excuses, and make it happen," he advised his fellow grads.
Mireles invited Shalonda Hilliard-Jones to the podium, declaring that "she always had something to say." The young mother used the opportunity to say "thank you to Oscar for pushing me, and to my sister, my grandma, my friends — especially Amanda [Von Behren, another young mother among the grads].
Founders Scholarship winner Emily Kitzerow, who will attend Madison Area Technical College (MATC) in the fall, declared that "Omega taught me how one organization could make such a difference in one person's life."
Roxy Spirit of Compassion scholarship winner Precious LaShore, who will begin studying veterinary medicine in the fall, said, "first of all, I have to thank God. I thank my boyfriend, my sister, my aunty, and my cousin Toni for always being there." Precious was accompanied to the podium by her mom, who had shouted "That's my baby!" as the scholarship winner was described anonymously a few moments before.
"I give our students opportunities to have enough chances to fail until they find success," Mireles interjected at this juncture, to which grad Sarah Barr responded, "There he goes, pushing people again."
"Every once in a while we have students we butt heads with," Mireles commented as he introduced another student. "I kept telling her she could."
Said grad Da'Rell Fowler, a young man Oscar had described as "quiet": "He pressured me."
Stated grad Amanda: "I skipped school a lot; got in the wrong crowd. I thank Omega for keeping me on the right track … I want to thank my family for not giving up on me."
And that truly says it all: Omega is a place where those who might be given up on can prove themselves, finding the support they and their families need to achieve the crucial goal of a high school diploma.

For more information about Omega School, which is located at 835 W. Badger Road on Madison's south side, call 256-4650. The graduation was sponsored by the Altrusa Club of Madison.