Community Services Consortium (CSC) graduated 81 students this year in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. The students graduated with either a high school diploma or a GED. The graduates came from CSC’s 3 alternative schools, in Corvallis, Albany or Lebanon, CSC’s charter school, Career Tech, in Lincoln City and from CSC’s partner, Angell Jobs Corp campus in Yachats.
Following are excerpts from remarks made by Clay Martin, Director of the CSC Workforce & Education program while addressing the class of 2010 in Corvallis. Martin spoke at several CSC graduations this June.
“Events like graduation that mark a significant achievement and a significant transition in life are special – a significant achievement for each of you.
“Many people talk about the value of a high school diploma in terms of real dollars. According to the US Census Bureau a high school graduate was expected to earn $1,216,000 over a 40 year career. That is $300,000 more than a person who did not graduate from high school. A college degree will add another $250,000-a higher degree even more. So, don’t ever stop learning. It almost always pays in real dollars over the course of your career.
“But, I think the value of a high school diploma is more than the real dollars. It demonstrates that you can stick with something difficult and challenging and persevere until it is complete. It is what most people call a good work ethic.
“Thank you to the teachers and staff who helped you. Thank you especially to the families who supported you. And congratulations class of 2010!”
