MOSES LAKE — It was a short walk across the room, but for the 34 students who graduated from Open Doors on Thursday it was the end of a long journey. 

“I had the motivation I needed to finish school, but not the tools,” said student speaker Mona Martin. “That's when I was directed to Open Doors. Thanks to the support and resources I received there, I was able to make up four years of math and English and pass my GED test with a qualifying score.” 

Open Doors is a reengagement program established in 2010 to enable students 16-21 years of age, who have left school before graduating, to finish out their high school education. Some students go there to earn their GED, others to earn a high school diploma and some, like Martin, had already earned the GED but wanted to go the extra mile. 

The two teachers – Rich Gregoire and Jason Giuntoli – listed on the district’s website for Open Doors are also identified as case managers. The format of Open Doors allows educators to give individual attention to the students, whether they like it or not, Gregoire said. 

“All of our cohorts have been different, but they all have one thing in common for sure, and that is the patience to endure, probably not enjoy, but endure the relentless bugging from our staff,” Gregoire said. “We tell everyone that comes in to Open Doors, that's how we roll. And I'm not sure everyone grasps this fully. Raise your hand, students, if you haven't felt bugged by Mr. Giuntoli and I. We bug because we care.” 

Student speaker Evelyn Reyna certainly appreciated the bugging. She earned her diploma while juggling work, school and a 2-year-old son, she said. She was struggling with math and beginning to feel like she’d never learn enough to graduate, she said, but her teachers wouldn’t let her fail. 

“If it wasn’t for the persistent support, I wouldn’t have accomplished it,” she said. “So thank you guys for bugging me, haunting me, texting me. Many times I didn’t want to go and (you’d say) ‘Hey, Evelyn, are you going to be showing up today? Are you coming in today?’ So thank you and continue doing that for the next (class).” 

Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis took a moment before diplomas were distributed to address the cohort. 

“I’m so proud of all of you,” she said. “You have overcome so many individual stories to be here, and this is what we're all about. I'm so impressed with your strength and your courage to be here.” 

Counselor Holly Martin read the names as each student came forward to receive their diploma or GED from school board members Karla Urias and Paul Hill. 

“We each came to Open Doors from very different circumstances, and we're each going to go in very different directions when this is over,” Mona Martin said. “But tonight, we're all in the same place. We're all graduates, and that's not something that just happened to us. It's a choice we all make …  So wherever your next step is in life and whatever new obstacles you're faced with along the way, I want you to remember that choice you made. You took control of your own life in order to be here today and nothing can take that away.” 

    Teacher and case manager Rich Gregoire, left, hands over the microphone to student speaker Evelyn Reyna at the Open Doors graduation Thursday.
  

    Open Doors graduate Kooper Herrmann receives his diploma from Moses Lake School Board Member Paul Hill.