Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children honors first graduating class

From: Scranton Times-Tribune - ‎Jun 17, 2010‎

Eight students from across Pennsylvania received diplomas Wednesday evening as the Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children honored its first graduating class.

Among those receiving diplomas was Radoslava Slavova from Coyne Avenue, Scranton. She plans to attend Gallaudet University and pursue studies in psychology.

"We are delighted to confer diplomas upon these remarkable students," said Superintendent Donald E. Rhoten. "These young people have conclusively shown that academic excellence can only be achieved through personal integrity, determination and courage.

"They have persevered through trying times and very real obstacles. We honor their significant achievements," he added.

The graduates were addressed by Dr. Nathie Marbury, a nationally renowned educator of deaf and hard-of-hearing students from Texas. Dr. Marbury is the subject of the DVD "Nathie: No Hand-Me-Downs," featuring stories, observations and her American Sign Language poems.

Commencement exercises were held at the campus, 1800 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. The new school, a program of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, opened its doors in September at the former Scranton State School for the Deaf site.

The graduates are:

Byron Evans, Wilkes-Barre; Amy McCaffery, Dover; Matthew Mercadante, West Chester; Helen Paris, Philadelphia; Ronnell Perkins, Wilkes-Barre; Aharon Riolo, East Stroudsburg; Radoslava Slavova, Scranton; and Donald Stewart Jr., Bartonsville.

©2010 The Scranton Times Tribune