Schools

Peabody Learning Academy Graduates 50th Student This Year

The third annual commencement at the Peabody Learning Academy was held inside the Northshore Mall in front of Macy's.

Twenty more students celebrated their graduation out in front of Macy's at the Northshore Mall last week.

The mall hosted the third annual commencement and awards ceremony on Thursday for yet another crop of students who have chosen to enroll in the Peabody Learning Academy since the alternative school program first opened at the mall in 2010.

The school also turned out its 50th grad this year. Dr. J. Michael Durnil, who is the president and CEO of the Simon Youth Foundation, said there were just eight grads the first year, 22 last year and now 20.

Find out what's happening in Peabodywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He said in the past 15 years, more than 10,000 at-risk students have graduated from SYF alternative school programs and there are 1,350 obtaining their diplomas this year.

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, who was just a day away from his own departure from office, was the keynote speaker on Thursday.

Find out what's happening in Peabodywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Murray commended the students for standing up and achieving important goals despite challenging life circumstances in many cases, and that, he said, will serve them well because they know how to surmount challenges and improve themselves.

"The educational and job opportunities in Massachusetts allow kids to go as far as they want," he said.

Rebecca Conant was chosen as the Student of the Year by the PLA staff and several college scholarships were awarded from SYF, Burtons Grill, East Boston Savings Bank and North Shore Community College.

Peabody Learning Academy Class of 2013

  • Paola Abreu-Guerrero
  • Bhruna Bastos
  • Brianda Burgos
  • Rebecca Conant (3)
  • Angel DeLaRoca (2)
  • Megan Gomes
  • Yanivel Gomez (3)
  • Alexis Grenier (1)
  • James Grieves
  • Nicholas Lewis
  • Bianca Lorenzetti
  • Lucas Machado (2)
  • Vanessa Marinho
  • Yolanda Molina 
  • Carlenis Ortiz
  • Shantel Ramos (2, 3)
  • Corrina Samayoa
  • Rashawn Sams
  • Giuliana Staff (3)
  • Caitlyn Tran (1, 2)
  • Peter Witwicki


1) Simon Youth Foundation Academy Scholarship valued at $7,700 over two years.

2) North Shore Community College/East Boston Savings Bank Scholarship valued at $1,000 over one year.

3) Burton’s Grill Scholarship valued at $2,000 over one year.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here