Cedar graduates parade in style

The 2024 graduates of Cedar High School on Friday paraded in classic cars with a police escort from the campus they share with Olympic College Shelton through town and to their commencement ceremony at the Shelton High School Performing Arts Center.

That's the kind of individual attention you get when you're in a class of 13 students, and you've been adopted by the members of the Yesteryear Car Club.

The alternative school specializes in project-based learning. Principal Amber Hosford lauded the

partnership with Olympic College Shelton and the school's many collaborators in the community. Hosford said being the principal of a small high school is the best because she has a "front-row seat" to witness their growth.

Graduate Mars Cultee told the audience she remembers starting school at Cedar online during the pandemic. "We grouped together as we worked together," she said.

Colleen Kost, a STEM teacher at the school, remembers that two-thirds of their freshman year were spent online. Many of the class members joined Cedar as sophomores, she said.

"Not many people can say they were there at the beginning," she said. She added, "We fought like a family, and loved like one too."

Kost concluded, "We love you, and we're here anytime you need us."

"We love you, Colleen!" called out a graduate.