They made it: Pace Center for Girls Volusia-Flagler celebrates its Class of 2025

The Pace Center celebrated its five graduates: Gabriel Crowell, Ta'Tyana Hampton, Zoe Ryan, Jordan Stoner and Alexis Williams.

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Many times, when a young woman arrives at the Pace Center for Girls Volusia-Flagler, she has no hope that she will one day graduate with a high school diploma.

"Maybe she's failed a class, or she's failed a grade, or one or many people have said to her, 'You are not going to make it,'" said Sheila Jordan, executive director for the Pace Center. 

That's why, she added, graduation day is so important to them.

On Friday, June 6, the Pace Center celebrated the graduation of five of its girls during a ceremony held at Lighthouse Presbyterian Church in Ormond Beach. Many of the students at Pace overcome academic, substance use and mental health challenges to be able to graduate, Jordan said, and so Pace celebrates graduation "in as grand a fashion as we can."

"It's an incredible, incredible day for us," Jordan said. "We have many fun days and special days, but there's nothing like a graduation day for girls who did not believe they would ever graduate."

Each of the five graduates — Gabriel Crowell, Ta'Tyana Hampton, Zoe Ryan, Jordan Stoner and Alexis Williams — had the opportunity to address their friends and family in attendance, as well as be recognized by their teachers and counselors. 

Tears were shed, and both planned and unplanned speeches were given. Afterward, each graduate received a certificate, as their diplomas will be mailed from their zoned schools. 

Scholarships were also presented during the ceremony. 

  • Stoner and Williams each received laptops from AT&T.
  • Williams received a $2,000 scholarship from AT&T.
  • Crowell received a scholarship from Florida Pre-paid and VyStar Credit Union which covers all of the tuition for any two-year college in Florida.
  • Williams received the $1,000 Rob Ridder Scholarship from the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce, becoming the scholarship's first recipient from the Pace Center.
  • Hampton and Ryan received a $500 scholarship from State Farm
  • Stoner received a $1,000 scholarship from State Farm.

After the girls switched their tassels from the right to the left, symbolizing the transition to becoming a graduate, Pace Center Academic Manager Lorna Papke-Dupouy said everyone in the room was proud of them.

"But this is one success in a lifetime of many more successes to come," she said.

 

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