Dr. Joyce Stewart joins Cameron Walkinshaw, a recent graduate of Everett HS

Cameron Walkinshaw was just hanging out at house house. It was just a month prior that his friends had graduated.

It was difficult watching his Everett High School classmates go through commencement in Comcast Arena.

“I watched my two best friends go through the ceremony,” Cameron said Thursday. “I was thinking, ‘This was MY class. That should have been ME.’ ”

But, there he was in July, at his house in Everett where he lives with his grandparents. When two visitors came to the door, what started as a lazy summer day became one that changed his life.

The visitors were Dr. Joyce Stewart, an associate superintendent of the Everett School District, and Amanda Overly, Everett High’s assistant principal. Seeing them on his doorstep, Walkinshaw almost couldn’t believe it.
He recognized Dr. Joyce Stewart, because she had been his principal while at Evergreen Middle School, years ago.

Cameron had more than a few un-finished classes and didn’t have enough credits to graduate in June with his classmates. He had planned to rescue his education through a reengagement program at the local community college and gave up hope of earning his high school diploma.

His visitors convinced him otherwise. They told him they knew he was smart and capable, and they were part of a team working to help students graduate.
That very day, he went to Everett Public Schools Sequoia High School to get started on summer classes, both OnlineHS and on campus.

CONTINUED: Read about the happy ending in the Everett Herald article: Hard work pays off for late high school graduate

RELATED: Deputy Superintendent Dr. Joyce Stewart wins Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Leadership Award