GRADUATION HAPPY, SAD OCCASION AT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CENTER

The first time Sheldon Tyler met Trisha Renschen she was a fourth-grader and he was her physical-education teacher.

They didn't keep in touch, and he didn't meet her again until some three and one-half years ago while he and his family dined at a local restaurant.

She had dropped out of school and was working full time. He had recently been named coordinator of the Alternative Education Center, a new school that was being organized to help dropouts and at-risk students get their high school diplomas.

He asked if she were interested in obtaining her diploma, and when Renschen said yes he suggested she enroll at the alternative school.

"She is really the ultimate example of perseverance," said Tyler. "I told myself after her interview that I thought she'd make it because she seemed to have something special. For a while there I thought I was wrong, but no matter what problems she's faced, she just keeps going and going."

Although it took three years and several false starts, Renschen met Tyler's expectations and her goal Friday when she and three other students received diplomas during an alternative school graduation ceremony.

Renschen, Travis Rowland and J. Brian Renaud have earned diplomas from Central High School by attending the alternative school. A fourth student, Matt Tarrillon, will receive a Perryville High School diploma.

"These certificates have the name of your high school on them, although I wish they said Alternative Education Center," said Tyler during the ceremony. "Whenever you get successful in life, be sure you let people know you came from here. You worked hard for this and persevered over a lot of things in your life to get to this day."

The ceremony was a bittersweet occasion as students and teachers cried as they said final goodbyes. Both Renschen and Renaud plan to continue their education. Renschen will be a freshman at Shawnee College in Ullin, Ill., in the fall, while Renaud has enlisted in the Navy and leaves for training July 1.

The goodbyes were not only for the four students leaving the school. Both Tyler and math and science teacher Christine Green are leaving the alternative school for jobs in other school districts next fall.

"I've learned a lot here, and I hope I shared something with you guys as well," Green said to students, who presented her with a going-away present. "Although I was only here for one year, this will always be a special time for me."

Renschen, who has attended the alternative school since it opened three years ago, agreed. "It was hard at times, but I learned a lot while I was here," she said. "Mr. Tyler and everybody let you know they care about you. I'm going to miss it."