F A L L 2 0 1 3 G R A D U A T E S

B e n j i A m o s M e l a n i e A m o s L e ’ o n B a r b e e

R o s a n a B e n i t e z D y l a n B u l l a r d

D e n n i s C a l v i l l o E s t a v o n C a r t e r

Q u e s h a w n a C a r t e r J a l y s s i a C h u m n e y J o n t e v i o s C o l l i e r

Samuel Cruz Vi l lanueva S a r a h D a v i s

F a i t h E d w a r d s M a l i k G r a n t

M i c h e l l e G r e e n e C a r l o s H a r r i s

J o h n a t h o n H o l t E d e n H i d a l g o

T a y d r a J e n k i n s T r e q u o i s J o n e s

A l a a K a d e r D a y L a q u a n K e l l y

J a m i e L a d a X a v i e r L a v e n d e r

D o n n e l l L e w i s G l e n i s M e r l o s D o n a l d M i l l e r

A b d i k a d i r M o h a m e d I r v i n g M o t a

K e l v i n N e l s o n W i l l i e O u t l a w

C h a r m a i n e P e t e r s A l e x a n d e r R o w s e

C h r i s S i g a l a L a ’ K e t a S i m p s o n Z a c h a r y S o m m e r s

L o r i a n n S w a n e r L e z l i T a d e o C o r r i l o H u n t e r T h o m p s o n

P a t r i c i a T a y l o r M a t t h e w V a z q u e z

I s a i a h W a r d P o r c h a W a r f i e l d

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2

SPECIAL POINTS

OF INTEREST:

>Fall 2013 Graduates

>Spring 2014 Graduates

>Former Students

>Employee Spotlight

of The Simon Youth Academy at Old Cockrill

The Pulse CONGRATULATIONS FALL 2013 GRADUATES

By Sharika Costa Do you re-member where you were on De-

cember 17th, 2013? For some, it may have been an ordinary day, but for me and The Academy at Old Cockrill it was extraordi-nary. Gradua-tion day had arrived, and I had the great privilege of ushering family and friends into the cere-mony.

Students at Old Cockrill aren’t typical graduates. Just like me, some have been told we would never graduate, we would never be successful, we aren’t worth anything, we are failures, and more. Many Old Cockrill stu-dents have seen their grad-uating classes come and go. So this was the day some thought would never come, and these weren’t just any graduates, they were miracle graduates.

Before this experience, I had thought of graduation as “boring” along with the

many moms who think, “Dang, I have to watch all one hundred and some-thing students graduate, and I just came to see you.” From listening to boring, drained-out speak-ers to being unlucky be-cause your best friend’s last name is Vulong, gradu-

ations are not the first thing people just hop up and go to happily. But they have never been to an Old C o c k r i l l graduation! N u m b e r one rule! Don’t be

late! You might miss the whole thing! Old Cockrill is the shortest straight-to-the-point graduation I have ever attended. And yet, from the moment I walked into the auditori-um, I felt a difference. There was excitement in the air.

The speakers would have blown your mind. I can still hear two lovely students, Malik and Lori, speaking encouragingly to graduates. Their speeches

were straight to the point and humorous. Malik kept the crowd laughing with his line, “Better watch out, I might pull you over,” as he told of his plans to be-come a policeman. Lori did a great job as well, tell-ing why she came to Old Cockrill and how she over-

came many obstacles. As I looked around after the speeches, I saw tears of joy in the eyes of family and friends and tears of success from almost ALL the grad-uates. Every-one was so

happy! Suddenly, caps were in the air.

It was a beautiful mo-ment from start to finish. In fact, it was freaking awesome! And it wasn’t even my graduation. On May 28th, 2014, I will be the one graduating and telling other people about my obstacles and my suc-cesses.

Embrace life and be part of the next miracle graduation as we celebrate the class of May, 2014.

MIRACLE GRADUATION!

Malik Grant Lori Swaner

T H E P U L S E

P A G E 2

Slides were created by Ms. Holton and her Media Class students and presented at graduation.

V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

P A G E 3

T H E P U L S E

P A G E 4

Benji Amos Melanie Amos Le’On Barbee Rosana Benitez Dylan Bullard Estavon Carter

Eden Hidalgo Taydra Jenkins Trequois Jones Alaa Kader Daylaquan Kelly Jamie Lada

Willie Outlaw Charmaine Peters Alex Rowse Chris Sigala La’Keta Simpson Zac Sommers

V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

P A G E 5

Queshawna Carter Jalyssia Chumney Sam Cruz Sarah Davis Malik Grant Carlos Harris

Xavier Lavender Donnell Lewis Glenis Merlos Donald Miller, Jr. Irving Mota DeShawn Nelson

Lori Swaner Lezli Tadeo Patricia Taylor Hunter Thompson Matthew Vasquez Porcha Warfield

Graduation Photographer: Tammy Ruff

T H E P U L S E

P A G E 6

The Simon Youth Academy at Old Cockrill celebrated its 2013 Fall

Graduation Ceremony at the beautiful Mount Zion Baptist Church on Tues-day, December 17. School board members, special guests, faculty, staff, family and friends gathered to support and celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates.

V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

P A G E 7

Seal of approval from

Ms. Fahrner, The Academy at

Old Cockrill’s founding principal.

Dear Students,

I was so proud of you at the December graduation and to know I played a small part helping

you have a better life for yourself and your family.

I loved my job more than anything because I got to spend time getting to know you. When I

became ill and had to retire, it was one of the saddest days of my life. However, things are

going well and I do want to hear from you.

Please keep in touch (efahrner@comcast.net.)

XO,

Ms. Fahrner

CURRENT 2014 SPRING GRADUATESCURRENT 2014 SPRING GRADUATESCURRENT 2014 SPRING GRADUATES

Lucas Hames Nai’Imma Nunez

Jamal Mitchell

Alexis Clemmons Nathan Duke Rosa Burgess

Destiney Watkins Angela Shannon Marniqua Archibald

T H E P U L S E

P A G E 8

Justin Stephens, a

May, 2012, gradu-

ate, is currently

working at Target

and attending college

at the Art Institute of

Nashville where he is

studying video pro-

duction and film

making.

Administration: Bill Warren, Principal Carl Carter, Assistant Principal Tammy Nash, School Counselor

To request this information in an alternate format, please contact your building principal or department head.

Mission of Old Cockrill To produce a safe en-

vironment in which stu-dents are inspired to achieve success through an individualized plan that leads to graduation. Our goal is to develop produc-tive citizens and celebrate their success.

The Academy pro-vides an opportunity for students who want to pur-sue a high school diploma in a non-traditional setting.

We have flexible scheduling, non-traditional curricula, a diverse student body, and an open cam-pus, far removed from the traditional high school experience.

After an application process you may be select-ed for an interview.

We are a school of choice, meaning that you choose to be here and you choose to work hard. Oth-erwise, we have the choice of not letting you attend.

Students are treated like adults, and we expect adult behavior from every

Seth Parker, a July, 2012, graduate, has a good job and his own place. He is paying on a truck and getting things lined up to go to Tennessee

College of Applied Technology in Harts-

ville to become a mechanic and welder.

Created by Kelley Nelson-Gibbs

A special “Thank You” to Ms. Gibbs for taking her time to help proof and edit.