The Woodward Center celebrates the class of 2023

The Woodward Center, renowned for its commitment to providing excellent special education, celebrated its annual graduation ceremony on June 26.

This year, the school proudly bid farewell to 17 high school senior students who successfully completed their academic journey. The majority of these talented individuals achieved the prestigious distinction of receiving a regent’s diploma.

The noteworthy event witnessed a significant number of graduates, six in total, expressing their aspirations to pursue higher education. These ambitious students have set their sights on various fields, including engineering, digital graphic design, and education. To support their educational endeavors, local vendors rallied together and generously raised $3,000, which was distributed equally among the college-bound students. Each recipient was not only presented with a substantial $500 scholarship but also received a brand-new laptop to aid them in their studies.

Distinguished figures graced the occasion with their presence, addressing the eager audience with inspiring speeches. Among the notable speakers were Mayor Robert T. Kennedy of Freeport, Councilman Chris Carini, Senior Councilwoman Dorothy L. Goosby, and Senator Kevin Thomas.

For a little extra flare for the event, celebrity Ice-T took the stage to deliver a special message exclusively for the graduating class of 2023.

The executive director of the Woodward Center, Gregory Ingino, expressed immense pride in the achievements of the graduating class.

“It was a tremendous graduation, it was just a culmination of a great year, it was overall a great event, and we look forward to Woodward’s future,” Ingino said. “We are trying to expand. Our phenomenal program and we just want to get the word out. We want to be able to grow and make would work better and better.”