Graduating from high school is a huge life accomplishment for any student, but it is especially meaningful for the students who attend Mt. Scott Learning Center, a local high school aimed at serving students especially struggling in traditional classrooms. This June, Warner Pacific was proud to host 32 graduates of the Mt. Scott Learning Center for the graduation ceremony of their Class of 2023, held in McGuire Auditorium.
“Some of this year’s graduates have been at Mt. Scott since the beginning of their freshman year while others came to Mt. Scott as sophomores and juniors, and some have been with us for only a year,” said Tom Dejardin, Executive Director of MSLC. “In each and every case, the Mt. Scott staff met these students where they were at in their educational journey and personalized the support and attention they needed to graduate.” 
“Mt. Scott Learning Center is one of the lowest-funded high school programs in Portland and serves an extremely high-needs student population,” stated Dejardin. Despite the challenges, their graduation rate routinely averages 90% or above.
During the ceremony, the audience heard from their co-valedictorians who described their journey at MSLC. “I went through a lot growing up…I didn’t feel like I was worth anything and I didn’t think that I would make it out alive. So Mt. Scott saved me in the way that, all of the teachers and staff are so understanding,” stated Isabelle Brennan, co-valedictorian. Because of Mt. Scott, Isabelle was able to graduate high school a year early and will be attending a four-year university to study criminal justice and purse a career in law enforcement.
One of WPU’s very own recent graduates, Marcos Romero Turner ‘23, is an alum of Mt. Scott Learning Center. “The teachers at Mt. Scott are not just my teachers. They are my family. This school is home to me. It’s where I found hope, felt safe, and experienced success.” said Turner. Marcos later became an Act Six Scholar along with earning his Bachelor of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from Warner Pacific University.
***
What an inspiring organization and mission! We are truly blessed to have this connection to Mt. Scott Learning Center, and we are honored to continue transforming the lives of students who choose to further their education at Warner Pacific University.