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June 2, 2007

Willie Ross graduates lauded for character

From: The Republican - Springfield,MA,USA - Jun 2, 2007

By ELIZABETH ROMÁN
eroman@repub.com

LONGMEADOW - "The two students who are graduating both have a lot of courage and character," said John C. Martin, school counselor at East Longmeadow High School and speaker at the Willie Ross School for the Deaf graduation last night.

Jesse Ascioti, 19, of Springfield and Kaelyn Korbut, 20, of Chicopee, both graduated in a ceremony at the school.

"Both are remarkable students who have to keep busy and want to accomplish things in their lives," said Gregory DeLisle, deputy executive director at the school.

"They are both goal-oriented and really became involved with their mainstream classes and became part of the East Longmeadow high school community," Martin said.

DeLisle described Ascioti as a bright student who has overcome a lot of obstacles in his life.

"Jesse scored in the advanced level on the math MCAS, he loves to learn and explore things. He is a very creative writer," he said.

DeLisle said it has been a pleasure seeing Korbut grow up.

"Kaelyn came to us when she was 3 years old and has made steady progress taking courses at East Longmeadow High School, at Holyoke Community College and even had an internship with a veterinary clinic in Hampden," he said.

Korbut and Ascioti plan to attend Holyoke Community College for two years and then apply to the Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a school for hearing impaired students.

State Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, also spoke at the graduation.

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