Silver State Charter High School graduates look back and forward

While high school graduation can feel like stepping into the great unknown, Joshua Carmicheal knows exactly where his path is leading.

“It’s a super-big deal,” he said. “We get to start full-time work now. Win.”

And he’s not kidding.

Carmicheal, 18, chose the online hybrid Silver State Charter High School for its flexibility, allowing him to dedicate more time to his construction job.

“We only have to show up to school one day a week,” he explained. “And I could do my classes online at night. Every other day, I was at work.”

He’s eager, he said, to continue the apprenticeship program he’s in, mastering new trades.

“Learning how to build houses is something I really want to do,” he said.

Carmicheal was among the 59 graduates who received diplomas during Silver State Charter’s commencement ceremony Tuesday evening at the Carson City Community Center.

“This is a great class,” said Superintendent Steve Knight. “I really had fun with this year’s group. These guys were a really affable, dedicated bunch of kids.”

As the school has increased in enrollment this year, Knight said, it also has increased its offerings, completing a theater at the new location on Mallory Way.

“This year, besides our arts and sciences, our performing arts really came into play,” he said. “Our new theater enabled us to have a play a month. That added a lot of classes to our repertoire.”

While two employees retired this year — teacher Keith Martin and nurse Vicki Hamilton — Knight said four new employees will be added next year.

For Cody Lee, 18, Tuesday’s ceremony was mostly symbolic.

“I got the graduation feeling in January because I got done with my classes then,” he said. “I’ve just kind of been hanging out.”

But he’s looking forward to his next step: joining the Marines.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I just want to serve my country and earn the title of Marine.”

The flexibility was a difficult adjustment at first for Gabriel Ruiz, 18, but it turned into a benefit.

“It was a challenge because you have to teach yourself,” he said. “That was new to me, but it made me see I could be a good student on my own.”

Salutatorian Michael Williams, who plans to become a pediatrician, expressed confidence in his fellow graduates as well.

“Every one of us on this stage has goals and aspirations that will undoubtedly change the world,” he said.