Karina Ramirez walks to the stage during the Pima Vocational High School graduation held at the Hotel Tucson Inn and Suites on June 6, 2012.

Your donation to Pima Vocational High School before the year ends may qualify you for a state tax credit when you submit your tax returns in 2013.

Your donation will make a real difference and could cost you nothing!

You can give – and claim a dollar-for-dollar Arizona public school tax credit for – up to $200 if you file as a single person and up to $400 if you are married and filing jointly.

PVHS is an accredited public charter school started by Pima County in 2000 to help students ages 16-21 earn a high school diploma and obtain a sustainable job through career-oriented work experience in an applied academic setting.

The new graduates of Pima Vocational High School sit proudly in front of their families and friends at the Hotel Tucson Inn and Suites on June 6, 2012.

Many of its students have dropped out or were at risk of dropping out of other high schools before they attended PVHS.  They’ve had challenges many of us will never face. Some have been involved in family or juvenile court. Some already have children.  Some have been homeless.

But they have not given up. Do not give up on them. Make sure they have a chance to get the education they need to become employable citizens and even pursue higher education.

More than 415 students have graduated from PVHS since 2000.

PVHS offers small classes at three small campuses:

• John A. Valenzuela Youth Center
  1550 S. Sixth Ave.
• Downtown Tucson
  97 E. Congress St., Ste. 30
• Northwest
  2600 W. Sweetwater Drive

Slide 1 of 8.
Pima Vocational High School graduate Jose Aguayo gives flowers and hugs to his grandmother Edelmira Aguayo after he gave a short speech thanking her.
Source: Pima County Communications OfficeSlide 2 of 8.
Karina Ramirez walks to the stage during the Pima Vocational High School graduation at the Hotel Tucson.
Source: Pima County Communications OfficeSlide 3 of 8.
Mother Carol Morrillo has tears in her eyes as she looks at her daughter, Vanessa Carrillo, on stage during the Pima Vocational High School graduation.
Source: Pima County Communications OfficeSlide 4 of 8.
Pima Vocational High School offers students another chance at attaining their high school diplomas, with 29 graduating in this class.
Source: Pima County Communications OfficeSlide 5 of 8.
Friends and Family take photos of the graduates on stage.
Source: Pima County Communications OfficeSlide 6 of 8.
Michaela Deysher smiles while on stage during the Pima Vocational High School graduation.
Source: Pima County Communications OfficeSlide 7 of 8.
The capacity crowd looks on during the ceremony.
Source: Pima County Communications OfficeSlide 8 of 8.
Carol Morrillo has tears in her eyes as she hugs at her daughter, Vanessa Carrillo, after Vanessa gave her flowers during the Pima Vocational High School graduation at the Hotel Tucson. Pima Vocational High School offers students another chance at attaining their high school diplomas, with 29 graduating in this class.
Source: Pima County Communications Office

Pima Vocational High School sent 29 graduates out into the world this month, far better equipped than when they entered Pima County’s alternative high school.

The students graduating on Wednesday, June 6, at the Hotel Tucson belonged to PVHS’s “largest graduating class ever in 13 years,” said Director Gloria Proo.

Cameras flashed.

Families and friends whooped with joy.

And as each graduate spoke about what led them to attend PVHS and pursue their high school diplomas, several choked up when they thanked the school’s staff, their parents – and even their own children.

“You change lives every day and have changed my life forever,” one young woman said to the PVHS staff.  “I feel like I have grown up and matured in so many ways.”

Emotion filled one young man as he thanked his grandmother, who “has taken care of me my whole life without asking anything in return.”

Another young woman said that discovering she was pregnant became her motivation, instead of an obstacle, to graduate.

“I had to keep moving forward because it just wasn’t me anymore,” she said.

More than 350 students have graduated from PVHS since Pima County started the charter high school in 2000.

Many of its students had dropped out or were at risk of dropping out of other high schools before they attended PVHS.  Some have been involved in family or juvenile court.  Some have even been homeless.

More than one graduate thanked the PVHS staff for finding them a place to stay when they needed it.

A program of the Pima County Community Services, Employment and Training Department, PVHS is an accredited school-to-work school that helps students ages 16-21 obtain a sustainable job through career-oriented work experience in an applied academic setting.

PVHS offers small classes at three small campuses:

• John A. Valenzuela Youth Center
  1550 S. Sixth Ave.
• Downtown Tucson
  97 E. Congress St., Ste. 30
• Northwest
  2600 W. Sweetwater Drive