VIDEO: Evening School Graduates Earn Diplomas

As one of 47 students who received their diploma in the Anne Arundel Evening High School graduation ceremony Thursday night, Shelby Hynson stood on stage in victory.

Hynson shared how Glen Burnie Evening High School enabled her to graduate after dealing with the loss of her father.

"I lost my dad in a tragic boat accident on Aug. 30 of 2009 in Marley Creek in Glen Burnie. I wasn't going to attend school because of it," she said, fighting back tears. "Losing my father changed my whole life."

Hynson spoke of the pain she still feels about her father's death and thanked her family and friends, as well as teachers and staff Glen Burnie Evening High School, for helping her to make it through.

"They all gave me the help I needed to be successful," she said.

She plans to attend either trade school for radiology or a nursing program at Anne Arundel Community College.

Along with Hynson, Keon Gross of Annapolis Evening High, Aaron Brown of South River Evening High and Daniel Adams of Meade Evening High shared their stories of personal triumph as speakers Thursday night.

The evening high school program currently has approximately 890 county students, and has graduated 2,707 students over the years, according to Evening High School Principal Nelson Horine. Of the 66 total that graduated from the program, 47 attended the ceremony Thursday. 

The program offers an alternative route to a diploma for teens who face unique circumstances, ranging from criminal pasts to incredible hardship, Horine said in his speech Thursday.