Tuesday, June 15 was a very special night as the Ken-Ton School District celebrated the 14 graduating seniors of the Big Picture Program Class of 2021. Presiding over the ceremony was Mr. Kevin Kruger, Big Picture Program Principal, and Christopher Watson, 401 (Senior Class) Advisor. We were also joined by Board of Education members, administrators, Big Picture staff, and families.

Big Picture is a non-traditional high school program and the only program of its kind in Western New York. It is distinguished by its small class advisories, individualized project-based approach to learning, and internship experiences. Operating in the Kenmore Middle School Building, the program includes approximately 75 students in Gr. 8-12. It was brought to Ken-Ton as a result of an initiative called Destination Graduation in order to provide an innovative new pathway to graduation. Since then, it has been an incredible success and this was its seventh graduating class. We will strategically continue to focus on our pathways to graduation and continuing to enhance such a successful program.

We are extremely proud of our Class of 2021 Big Picture graduates for achieving this milestone! Our graduating seniors were Jane Benz, Zachary Doty, Anthony Genco, Cora Hatch, Romeo Mack, Madison Martin, Ryan Nebrich, Sabrina Paveljack, Bailey Payne, Matthew Sandy, Simon St. Peter, Michael Vitale, Curtis Waite and Richard Wright. We also recognized Program Supervisor Anne Blenk and Kenmore Middle School Head Custodian Michael Kollmar, both of whom are retiring this year. Ms. Blenk and Mr. Kollmar have both been instrumental throughout the program's history here in Ken-Ton.