By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Seven of 49 Kansas Online Learning Program graduates this year joined 25 Centre seniors in walking across the stage to receive diplomas Sunday.

John Patterson of Topeka, the oldest graduate, was happy to be recognized.

“At 42 years, I consider it an honor to walk across the stage and get my diploma,” he said.

He enrolled in February 2017 and finished in December.

Quentin Stuchlik of rural Lincolnville spent the past two years in the online program after being home-schooled.

“I took college classes the last year, and I had to study a lot,” he said. “I kept a regular schedule, and it worked well for me.”

He plans to continue online studies one semester with Butler Community College and eventually earn a degree in software engineering.

Senior Kate Basore addressed her class.

“I’m not going to give the usual graduation speech,” she said. “I’m not going to give advice. We can figure it out all by ourselves. We will live as we have until now.”

Max Svoboda and Cole Srajer entertained the crowd by presenting brief descriptions of each senior and sharing the class’s predictions for each one, such as Austin Peterson, a farmer; Payton Harms, a ranch owner; and Srajer, a millionaire.

Svoboda, a Governor’s Scholar, presented science teacher and coach Phil Duerksen with a “Teacher of Influence” award.