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Columbus City Schools Celebrates 22 Winter Graduates

student standing on stage in cap and gown

February 04, 2025 -- The stage was set for a momentous occasion as 22 Columbus City Schools (CCS) students crossed the finish line of their academic journey, proudly graduating during the District’s dynamic Winter Commencement Ceremony. This milestone celebration marked not just the end of one chapter, but the thrilling beginning of new possibilities for these determined graduates.

“Our winter graduation is a special and unique graduation,” said Kathryn Moser, Deputy Superintendent of Academics at CCS. “These are students who have either completed requirements early or needed a little extra time and took the tough steps to complete their requirements.”

Kamya Williams, a proud graduate of Columbus Online Academy, is eager to embark on the next chapter of her journey as the future holds exciting possibilities. She dreams of traveling and eventually opening her own restaurant or food truck, fully aware that reaching her goals will require dedication and hard work.

“I think one thing that Columbus City Schools has taught me is that preparation is key,” Williams said. “One percent every day will be 100% in 100 days,” Williams said.

Winter Commencement plays a vital role in celebrating the paths students take to achieve academic success to complete their high school educational journey. It serves as an important milestone for those who’ve overcome unique challenges to cross the finish line, providing a well-deserved moment of recognition for their hard work and perseverance. For some, it marks the culmination of a determined push to complete their studies, while for others, it honors the accomplishment of finishing their academic journey ahead of schedule. This ceremony not only acknowledges their achievements but also reinforces the message that every student’s path is valuable, and every milestone, no matter when it’s reached, deserves to be celebrated.

“For all of us, especially in our District, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in elementary, middle, or high school. What we really want for our kids is to see them graduate from high school with a plan for their next steps in life,” said Whetstone High School Principal Janet Routzong.

student receiving diplomaThe following CCS students proudly earned their diplomas:

  • Christopher Balcer (Briggs High School) 

  • William Boyd (Northland High School) 

  • Landon Collier (West High School) 

  • Alonso Contreras (Beechcroft High School)

  • Hussein Corneh (Walnut Ridge High School) 

  • Syria'Ha Dye (South High School) 

  • Jailynn Fields (Marion-Franklin High School) 

  • Franklin Garcia Quevedo (Whetstone High School)

  • Catherine Gibson (Whetstone High School) 

  • Ein Johnson (Columbus Online Academy)

  • Abdou Kinteh (Independence High School) 

  • Pierce Locke (Briggs High School)

  • Lashawn Love (Linden-McKinley STEM Academy)

  • Zuheib Muktar (Northland High School) 

  • Raymel Nellum (Columbus Scioto 6-12)

  • Amirah Owens (Columbus Alternative High School) 

  • Pierre Person (Mifflin High School)

  • Kamari Smith (Beechcroft High School) 

  • Yotam Uzuakpundu (Mifflin High School) 

  • Kamya Williams (Columbus Online Academy)

  • Morelia Yanez-Alcauter (Mifflin High School)

  • Zubair Yusuf (Northland High School)

“My words of encouragement to our graduating class are that no matter what it is they feel like they are facing or going to face, all they need is within them. All they have to do is believe in their own possibilities,” said Columbus Board of Education President Michael Cole.


Power of One

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