By CHRISTINA  LABOISSONNIERE

PAWTUCKET — On a rainy Friday morning, the mood could not be dampened inside St. Paul’s Church, where the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program (BVCAP) held its commencement exercises.

With black and gold balloons floating in the air and proud loved ones quietly seated, the occasional camera flash going off, 56 graduates received their diplomas.
Vincent Ceglie, BVCAP executive director, called the day “very special.” He noted how “all students were determined to get their GED” and how that was not an easy accomplishment, for nearly all students were returning to school.
Mayor James Doyle addressed the graduates saying, “It may be raining outside by the sun is shining in here.”
“This is my very favorite graduation,” Doyle said, because “you people have been through the ringers of life already, you know what you want and you worked hard to achieve it.” Doyle urged the students to keep learning. “When education ends, so do many opportunities,” he said. “We the city are so very, very proud and wish you all the success.”  
James Hoyt, chairman of the BVCAP board of directors, congratulated the students on behalf of the Board of Directors. “The important part of today is that it is the beginning ... let this be the beginning of a lifelong learning process,” said Hoyt.
Manda Raitano, BVCAP instructor and education coordinator, continued with the theme of continued learning, urging students to “continue to add to their knowledge.”
Graduates Jennifer Montella and Kirstin Vale shared their joy of accomplishment, yet expressed that this journey through education was not easy. Montella stressed the hard work that went into receiving these diplomas. “We all worked very hard to be here,” she said.  Vale shared her personal story. “It wasn’t easy working all night, taking my son to school and then taking myself to school,” she said. Monetella said she did it for herself, but also for her son so that he would know education is important.