On August 6, 2026, South Portland Adult Education celebrated the accomplishments of its HiSET Class of 2026 at a special graduation ceremony held at South Portland High School. The ceremony marked an important milestone for 13 adult graduates who worked hard to earn their high school equivalency credentials during the 2025-2026 school year. The HiSET (high school equivalency test) is Maine’s high school diploma equivalency credential.
Family, friends, educators, and community members gathered to recognize the graduates and celebrate the dedication and perseverance that brought them to this moment. The event featured a welcome from Erin Krivicky, Director of South Portland Adult Education, an address from South Portland Schools Superintendent Angela Atkinson Duina, Ed.D., and a student reading of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken, presented by HiSET graduate Fatima Zati.
The Class of 2026 was also represented by student speaker Sammie Mueller, age 29, who shared both her personal journey to enrolling in South Portland Adult Education and her future goals. “It was hard to walk back into the high school eleven years later. I had doubts and thought I couldn’t do it because I thought it would be too difficult. But despite all those fears I still walked through the door,” Sammie shared in her speech. Sammie plans to enroll in Southern Maine Community College this fall, majoring in Early Childhood Education.
The Class of 2026 graduates include Adam Aloes, Lorenzo Cadamosti, Ian Crawford, Jazmine Elarms, Laressa Franco, Tamar Friedmann, Graecelynn Caston, Samantha Mueller, Vincent Nappi, Lillian Nason, Melanie Pagan, Katherine Richards, and Fatima Zati. Their graduation represents not only the completion of an educational goal, but also the beginning of new opportunities and pathways forward. South Portland Adult Education proudly congratulates each member of the Class of 2026 and wishes them continued success in their education, careers, and future endeavors.