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Kaitlyn Simmons, 17, of Chicopee, left, was among the 41 graduates at a ceremony held on Friday, July 2, 2016 of The Care Center alternative school in Holyoke at Wistariahurst Museum on Cabot Street. At right, Simmons shows her decorated mortar board.

(MIKE PLAISANCE / THE REPUBLICAN)

HOLYOKE -- Kaitlyn Simmons, 17, said that what she felt upon receiving her high school-equivalency diploma Friday was pride and not regret that getting pregnant had forced her to drop out of school.

"I'm proud of myself, I guess. I did it for my son and I did it for my mom. My mom passed away. She died in September," Simmons said.

She was among 41 young women who combined to make this the largest graduating class to date of The Care Center alternative school. The ceremony was held in the Wistariahurst Museum garden, 238 Cabot St.

State Rep. Aaron M. Vega, D-Holyoke, said he was impressed with how graduates handled challenges.

"I'm proud to support the Care Center and the great work they do. I am hopeful these young women will continue their education, continue to be positive role models to their children and work to improve our community. I congratulate all of this years graduates and am impressed by their strength and determination," Vega said.

Simmons said her son Kaidenn will turn 1 next week. No regret, she said, that the path of her life took her to the alternative school here at 247 Cabot St.

"Definitely not. It was good for me. It definitely pushed me forward," Simmons said.

Executive Director Anne Teschner said the Care Center worked harder than ever this year to spread the word in the community about the availability of the alternative school and to the young women themselves about the importance of getting the diploma.

"Our normal is like 20. Thirty is good. Forty-one is out of the ballpark," Teschner said.

"We probably had 200 people, 250 people here and there was such a feeling of just buoyancy, 'My daughter did this, my sister did this.' You could feel it in the crowd. Our community is on the rise and we like it," she said.

The Care Center is supported by numerous funding sources including the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and donors in the region, a press release said.

Here is the list of graduates:

Amanda Acevedo,

Janeyka Alvarez

Shennex Bermudez

Amanda Carter

Tessa Colon

Gricellis Colon

Amelia Cotto

Tania M. Cruz

Shawna Cyr

Jessica Davila

Cassandra Eliza

Joanisha M. Escalera

Sabrina Gauthier

Jasmine Ibarrondo

Orine Joazil

Ellen-Leigh La Fleur

Christina Lanney

Elissette Marquez

Ashley M. Martinez

Lisette Matos-Rivera

Angelica Moser

Margarita Nieves

Alyssa O'Connor

Jalene Oliveras

Yimary Orozco

Coralys Perez

Nathacha Quinones

Luz Ramos

Luz Reyes

Aliah K. Rivera

Athaliah Rivera

Juliana E. Rivera

Jasmin M. Rodriguez

Angel Rosario

Kaitlyn Simmons

LeJean Toombs

Nydaliz Torres

Brianna Salgado

Ashly Vargas-Perez

Caren Ventura