NEXT CHAPTER IN LIFE BEGINS

Seven students, seven goals characterize this year’s graduating class from the Adult Education Diploma program.

Although 18 were set to graduate, only seven students participated in last week’s ceremony, capping their dreams of receiving a high-school diploma before moving on to the next chapter of their lives.

Bradlee Stands has set a goal to attend Western Nevada College in Fallon and then transfer to the University of California, Davis.

“I’m interested in something with technology or biology,” he said. “This is something I want to do, especially in the medical field.

Likewise, Miguel Muniz wants to attend the Fallon campus of WNC and then transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno or Oregon.

The media bug has bitten Muniz, who was a student in a high-school video production class. As a result of what he experienced in that class, Muniz said he would like to pursuit coursework and possiblly a degree in video production or photograph.

“I took Mr. (Chip) Rutledge’s video production class, and it opened my eyes,” Muniz said, adding he learned how to record and edit his products while using online software.

Bryan Tejada Talamantes needed additional help on his writing to pass the Nevada proficiency test. A beaming Arlene Detomasi, the longtime director of the Adult Diploma Program, said Talamantes was determined to pass the test and move forward.

Talamantes said he is going to Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno to become an auto technician.

“I like working on cars,” he said.

Detomasi said her student is already a gifted mechanic and has three vehicles he has worked on.

Gabriell “Gabby” Hicks also has a desire to become an auto mechanic. The mother of a 2-year-old daughter, Hicks said she would like to begin taking courses in 2017 from WNC that will lead to her receiving an associate’s degree in auto mechanics.

“I like working on cars and trucks,” she said. “My dad used to work on his truck when I was growing up, (and) then I got my own truck and worked on it.”

Hicks said she took an auto technology class at the high school from Rich Evans, who, coincidentally, taught her father the same class in the late 1980s.

Hicks also said she wants to improve her life not only for her but also for her young daughter.

Both Ariel Halcamb and Kayla Pierson are interested in the medical field.

Halcamb is torn between taking classes to become an Emergency Medical Technician or dental hygienist.

She has learned much about the work and what paramedics do since her boyfriend’s mother works at Banner Churchill Community Hospital as an EMT.

“I could handle the accidents and calls,” Halcamb said.

Yet, the idea of working with people in a dentist’s office also interests her because she wouldn’t be putting in the “crazy hours” of an EMT.

Pierson said she would like to obtain a degree in nursing and work in the operating room.

“I would like to save lives,” Pierson said, noting she has an uncle who works in OR at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.

The 21-year-old Pierson returned to school and said she wished she had become involved in the HOSA program, Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America where students learn about the health field.

“I didn’t know about it until a friend told me,” she said.

Shannon Probstfield, 20, also returned to school to earn her diploma. Eventually, becoming a social worker is her goal.

“Being a foster child myself, I want to help other kids find good families, and then I can work with them,” she said.

Probstfield grew up in Fallon but dropped out of high school. When her brother received his diploma, she said it hurt because they are twins.

Probstfield said she completed most of her work online in the Adult Ed Diploma Program.

Kimi Melendy, director of Education Services, gave the graduation speech. She told students to use the skills they have learned and then to apply them in their future endeavors.

She also gave them pointers to help them become more productive in later life. She said they must take responsibility for their actions, be positive, set goals, learn from their mistakes, be thankful for what they have and give back to a cause with time and money.