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Alternative education program names graduates

WATERVILLE — The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers announced this month that five senior girls earned their high school diploma through Waterville High School’s Alternative Education Program. Abigail Withman, Cassandra Casey, Emily Inman, Katelyn Sidelinger and Kristi Gaskey all received their diplomas and for the first time in the program’s history, all the graduating seniors will be continuing their education and attending college. Four girls have been accepted at Kennebec Valley Community College and one will be attending Southern Maine Community College beginning in September.

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From left are Abigail Withman, Cassandra Casey, Emily Inman, Katelyn Sidelinger and Kristi Gaskey.

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The Teen Parent School Program has been serving pregnant and parenting teen girls for 37 years. Each year, approximately 20 young women are enrolled in the program. The goal of the program is to empower these young mothers to become nurturing parents, good role models to their children, and productive, responsible citizens. The TPSP provides highly skilled and individualized services to the students including counseling, case management to help them access housing, transportation, and other basic necessities. The students also receive on-premises childcare, support and crisis intervention for problems that can occur in the day-to-day existence of a teen parent.

Waterville Public School’s Alternative Education Program works in conjunction with the TPSP and is located at 93 Silver St. in Waterville.

A small scholarship endowment fund has been created by some of our donors. Seniors may apply for a $1,000 scholarship to help them with some of their college expenses. This year, three scholarships were awarded.