Class of 07: Agents with the Power to Change

An Impressive Line-up at 2007 Graduation

Welcoming all to the Laurel Springs 2007 gradation, Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, Laurel Springs School director.

For a class of approximately 300 students who learn at home, on the set and on the road as they tour as actors, performers, athletes and world travelers, a graduation ceremony is a unique event. From across the United States, 41 Laurel Springs seniors attended the school's largest graduation ceremony in 16 years on June 24, 2007, in Ventura, California.

Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, founder and executive director of Laurel Springs has maintained the mission and vision of the school for 16 years by offering students who learn at home the chance to celebrate their senior year with a prom and graduation. Students have the chance to transform virtual relationships into reality when they meet their teachers, advisors and fellow students - often for the first time.

Marilyn highlighted that at Laurel Springs School students don't have to wait until they graduate, grow up or become an adult to pursue and accomplish their dreams, goals and aspirations. They can do it while attending LSS with the full support of the staff and faculty. And it looks like all of the 2007 graduates did just that. From musicians and composers, dancers and figure skaters, to playwrights and actresses, it seemed every possible vocation was represented at graduation. We heard from future veterinarians, doctors, marketers, Olympic medalists and fashion designers. And we heard from the college-bound that they'll attend community colleges and four-year universities such as Columbia, UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz, Chapman University, Colorado State University and many others.

Laurel Springs teacher Celia Milota, speaking to her student Makena Sage.

Teachers shared insights and respect for their students and expressed the joy of seeing their students transforming into adults. Some teachers highlighted how they watched their students get to know themselves, take risks, grow up and discover meaning. Others described the journeys they took together. In the words of teacher Gael Belden, "I thought it might be important to tell you that I am more of an un-teacher, who, with my students, peels off the layers of social and educational conditioning so they get closer to the questions: Who am I? What is meaningful to me? What makes me happy? And, how do I live boldly in order to contribute to a world that is waiting for me to step forward, excited, curious and driven by great forces of love? What these young people tell me - in so many words - is that if they listen closely to the din of voices clamoring for their attention, there is another voice, and that one is theirs."

Student Dyllon Burnside thanking Laurel Springs, family and friends.

Parents were thanked profusely for their hard work and for the important role the family plays in distance education. "This is your rite of passage as well. We couldn't do this without you," said Marilyn. Graduate Dyllon Burnside thanked 15 family members who traveled from Florida to attend his graduation. Oliver Kindred had to send himself a text message with the long list of family and friends he wanted to thank. And graduate Jennifer Hadlow thanked and congratulated her classmates from the class of "007" likening them to secret agent James Bond. And like a good independent learner she provided the dictionary definition of the word "agent" which means "to have the power to act." Her words of wisdom for the class were "pay it forward."

By the end of the day, 41 Laurel Springs graduates had met face-to-face with their teachers, their enrollment advisors, the director of the school and their classmates - a very real and personal ending to their distance learning high school experience. At Laurel Springs, we take the distance out of distance learning.

Thank you to all of our 2007 graduates and your families and friends for attending graduation. And a very special thank you to the Laurel Springs Student Services Team for planning and orchestrating our largest graduation to date!

Hear what our 2007 graduates have to say about Laurel Springs!

Visit our 2007 Prom, Graduation and NHS Student Event Gallery.