TOLEDO, Ohio — Cars crowded the streets surrounding the Lucas County Children Services building Friday to honk their horns, hold up their colorful posters with endearing messages, and cheer and clap all to show their support for their loved ones completing a huge milestone in their life.
A total of 22 students have started their next chapter as they've not only emancipated from the Lucas County Children Services but also received their high school diplomas.
Kevin Milliken, the public information officer for LCCS, said this year is a record-breaking one as this is the highest number of graduates they've had.
One of the 22 students celebrating this accomplishment is Sofia Musito, who is setting records of her own.
“My parents never went to high school or anything," Musito said. "So just trying to make a life for myself because they didn’t really know how to navigate it. Even right now going to college, they never experienced that."
While her parents never experienced college, Sofia will as she was recently accepted into a college and plans to major in psychology.
Musito and other graduates were provided a private lunch with friends of LCCS where they were given gifts. In addition, they took a limo bus to Middlegrounds Metropark for a graduation photo session.
They wrapped up the afternoon at Maumee Presbyterian Church and received duffle bags filled with personal items, household items and other donations to start their next chapter.
A moment of pride and achievement for those who have proven they can flourish even when the odds were sometimes against them.
LCCS said it's important to celebrate these graduates as they have overcome some of the toughest obstacles life could have thrown at them during their childhood.
Dayna Riley, LCCS independent living supervisor, said the graduates were excited about the activities they had planned Friday.
"It's important for them because some of them, they don't get a graduation ceremony," Riley said. "They walk across the stage and that's it so this just shows our support in the children services to them that we really are here for them."
LCCS said the graduates vary with many headed to college this summer and fall. A few are headed to training in skilled trades and others are headed directly to the workforce.