(LOUISVILLE, KY) – The Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) celebrated five graduates during its commencement ceremony on May 21.
The five graduates were:
- Brevin Fanin;
- Cherish Mimms;
- Valerie Alvarez;
- EJ Holden; and
- Allonah Lard.
“Thank you for entrusting your children to our care,” KSB Principal Peggy Sinclair-Morris said during the commencement ceremony. “It’s an honor to have had you as families and students at the Kentucky School for the Blind.”
The ceremony featured scholarship awards, a student-led musical rendition of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones, and the annual appreciation ceremony where the graduates hand out roses to people who played an important role in their lives.
Vincent Reese, retired KSB history teacher, gave the commencement address. He stressed three things he wanted to hear when he graduated high school: be an unsung hero, be prepared to fail and remember that “yes, you can.”
“Guys, you may never do something that makes it into the history textbooks, but if you are the person who will courageously stand for what is right because it is right, or you humbly kneel to offer help and encouragement or care to a person in need, then you are an unsung hero,” he said.
The 2025 commencement ceremony was also the first ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic to feature Scout Troop 10 presenting the colors. Scout Troop 10 is the oldest troop dedicated to students with disabilities and Scoutmaster Ottis Florence said 10 KSB students participated this year.
All photos were taken by Joe Ragusa, information officer supervisor with the Kentucky Department of Education.
Allonah Lard, Cherish Mimms and KSB teacher Becky Spies chat before the graduation ceremony begins.
KSB Principal Peggy Sinclair-Morris speaks with Shannon Sparkman, director of state schools with the Kentucky Department of Education.
Jose Echeverria and Evie Vanderpool, members of Scout Troop 10, hold their hands to their hearts as they salute the flag during the colors presentation.
Keynote speaker Vincent Reese gives the keynote address.
The graduating class performs “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones.
Cherish Mimms plays the drums.
Valerie Alvarez hugs her mother, Elvira Alvarez, during the appreciation ceremony.
EJ Holden, center, celebrates with a group of KSB staff members he gave appreciation to: Kyle Sochia, Bo Mullins, Kyrstin Price and Connie Hill.
Allonah Lard hugs her mother and her stepfather on stage during the appreciation ceremony.
Cherish Mimms hugs Candace Bell, one of the people she gave a rose to during the appreciation ceremony.
Brevin Fanin, middle-left, stands on stage with Shawn Hauber, KSB student development assistant, teacher Connie Hill and dorm advisor Neil Brown.
The graduating class moves their tassels to signify the end of the ceremony.
