ALLPS students celebrate end of high school

Avery Undernehr, a senior at Agee Lierly Life Preparation Services Center, stands with her daughter Clara Ginnett, 3-months, as she stands with classmates Friday while being honored for a high grade point average during the ALLPS Senior Celebration at the school in Fayetteville. Graduating students from the innovation and alternative program of Fayetteville High School were honored for achievements and listened to inspirational messages from Paul Hewitt, superintendent of Fayetteville Schools, Ugochi Iloka, a television reporter and Steve Clark, president and chief executive officer of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.
Avery Undernehr, a senior at Agee Lierly Life Preparation Services Center, stands with her daughter Clara Ginnett, 3-months, as she stands with classmates Friday while being honored for a high grade point average during the ALLPS Senior Celebration at the school in Fayetteville. Graduating students from the innovation and alternative program of Fayetteville High School were honored for achievements and listened to inspirational messages from Paul Hewitt, superintendent of Fayetteville Schools, Ugochi Iloka, a television reporter and Steve Clark, president and chief executive officer of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The student worked harder than he did, her history teacher said Friday. She took initiative and spent too many hours in his classroom working on a project that won a third-place prize in a state History Day competition.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Tyress Golden (center), a junior at Agee Lierly Life Preparation Services Center, dances Friday with classmates in front of the senior class during the ALLPS Senior Celebration at the school in Fayetteville.

Sara Wilkinson, 17, is this year's winner of the Outstanding Student Award at the Agee-Lierly Life Preparation Services school, Luke Adams announced Friday during a Senior Celebration in the school's cafeteria.

Senior Celebration for Agee-Lierly Life Preparation Services

• 105 graduates

• 40 students finished all graduation requirements before May 6

• 8 students finished high school as 11th-graders

Source: ALLPS

The ceremony began with the crowd of parents, teachers and friends standing to watch this year's graduates file to their seats with Pomp and Circumstance playing.

Graduates may also participate in the Fayetteville High School commencement, but the annual celebration at the Agee-Lierly school is more personal, said Principal Denise Hoy.

Tom Undernehr and his wife, Natalie Undernehr, celebrated with two of Tom's daughters, Wilkinson and Avery Undernehr, 20.

"Those two girls have overcome so much to get to this day," Natalie Undernehr said. "It's unbelievable."

Wilkinson came to live with her father three years ago after a court decision placed her and some of her siblings in separate homes. Her high school career spans seven schools. Attending Agee-Lierly was the best move for Wilkinson, her father said.

"It turned her around completely," Undernehr said.

Wilkinson said she is proud to have a job and be one of the eight students graduating one year early. She said she persevered after enduring foster care, child neglect and discouragement.

"A lot of people had said I couldn't graduate early," Wilkinson said. "That I wasn't going to go far."

She enrolled in the program in August and in nine months completed the 17 credits she needed to graduate. The program gave her the ability to complete her schoolwork when and where she wanted, she said. The flexibility gave her time to visit sisters in Van Buren and to work.

Wilkinson appreciated the time and encouragement she received from her teachers. The school is like a family, she said.

"Being part of this school, they really do help you if you want some help," she said.

Wilkinson plans to start college at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and is thinking about majors in education or social work, she said. She also was awarded one of two scholarships from the Agee-Lierly school, which will provide her with $500 each year for the next four years.

Avery Undernehr withdrew from Elkins High School a couple years ago and enrolled in an online program to get her high school diploma. She found out she paid for a fake diploma.

"I was so close and only needed 2½ credits," she said. "I had to figure it out."

Even though Avery Undernehr was older than most of her peers, she was able to enroll at Agee-Lierly.

She was pregnant when she started the program, working and attending night school. When it became too much for her, the school allowed her to do her school work at home, she said.

Her daughter Clara Ginnett was born in February.

"They worked with me to make sure I graduated," Undernehr said.

She continues to work, hopes to get a house and plans to enroll in the eVersity online degree program through the University of Arkansas System.

Tears came quickly as Tom Undernehr reflected on the achievements of his two daughters.

"I can't be more proud," he said.

A group of students within the past two weeks worked together on a dance and rap to promote the Agee-Lierly school. They performed during the ceremony, wearing T-shirts and chanting "Don't Sleep on ALLPS." The phrase means don't underestimate the students in the alternative school, a teacher explained.

"We're kind of like the underdogs," said J'Mani Randall, 17, a group member who will begin his senior year in the fall. "We still have the capability of learning just like other schools."

Watching friends graduate is a special time, he said.

"Everybody thinks we can't graduate, and we can," Randall said.

NW News on 05/07/2016

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