AIM ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT WITH MY DYSLEXIA AUTHOR PHILIP SCHULTZ

10^th Anniversary Class Graduates in New AIM Community Center

On the morning of June 3, 2016, the AIM Academy community marked another milestone in its 10^th Anniversary celebration graduating more seniors (25) than the entire school enrollment (24) when it opened its doors in 2006. The ceremony was held for the first time in the stunning 23,000 sq. ft. AIM Community Center (ACC) opened in April.

Following a welcome to "our House" (as the ACC has been coined by the students) from AIM Academy Executive Director Patricia Roberts and remarks from Board of Trustees Chair Matthew Naylor, Pulitzer Prize winning poet and author of My Dyslexia, Philip Schultz delivered the Commencement Address. "When I look around the room I see parents who advocated for you, teachers who stuck with you till you "got it," administrators who forged new ground for you, and solid friendships that grow out of true camaraderie. You had human and technological support and you had each other and you were surrounded by people who knew you could do it, and at some point you too discovered you could do it. You played to your strengths, you worked harder than you thought you could, you found creative solutions to challenges along the way, and you did it. You're here."

Nancy Blair, AIM Academy Associate Director introduced the two senior speeches. Michael Berman (Gwynedd Valley) looked to the future and what he was taking with him from his years at AIM, "Next year I look forward to attending American University, and continuing to bring what AIM has taught me about myself and my learning disability everywhere I go. Each one of us has had different paths leading to where we are today—ready to graduate from high school. But we are all here because of the same place, people, and community. Because of AIM. Today is a day to celebrate our accomplishment as individuals, as a class, and as a school, and I couldn't be more proud to have this celebration."

After the presentation of diplomas and a welcome to the AIM Alumni Association from Jon Fuiman, Class of 2012 and Elizabethtown College Class of 2016, the following awards were presented:

Marvins Award – Nathan Batzer (Merion Station)

Awarded upon graduation to an AIM senior who embodies the values of Respect, Citizenship, Leadership, and Perseverance so exemplified by AIM founding board members Marvin N. Demchick and Marvin D. Alloy.

Lou Uchitel Spirit Award – Phoebe Katz (Chestnut Hill)

Awarded upon graduation to an AIM senior who embodies the values of Inclusion, Friendship, School Spirit, and Persistence so exemplified by Lou Uchitel.

Arts & Creativity Award – Cornelia Borgerhoff (Chestnut Hill)

Awarded upon graduation to an AIM senior who excels in their craft and who plans to use their art as the platform for their success beyond AIM.

The ceremony concluded with a rendition of "No One is Alone" by the cast of AIM's production of "Into the Woods",

Things will come out right now.
We can make it so.
Someone is on your side
No one is alone.

AIM Academy

1200 River Road, Conshohocken, PA 19428 215-483-2461 www.aimpa.org