1 00:00:33,900 --> 00:01:02,040 It's a speed that which to move, but when we move together, we move as one. When we face our challenges, we face them as one. And when we accomplish something, we accomplish it as one. We are pace, and we move at the pace of girls. The pace of girls is different than the rest. It's contemplative, thoughtful, sometimes struggling, and wavering. But at pace, we choose to move with girls. 2 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:03,800 Low when they slow, 3 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:05,180 feet when they do, 4 00:01:05,620 --> 00:01:07,640 offering acceptance, kindness and love 5 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,240 to give them the confidence to thrive on their own. 6 00:01:10,980 --> 00:01:14,020 This year, we are over 3000 strong. 7 00:01:15,340 --> 00:01:17,320 3000 individuals who together 8 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:19,160 are a force to be reckoned with, 9 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:21,360 a movement for girls. 10 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:23,360 At the heart of our movement 11 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,760 is a culture that values all girls, 12 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,500 believing every girl deserves an opportunity 13 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:30,760 to find their voice and potential, 14 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:37,460 To feel value, to feel safe, a culture committed to finding the great in every girl. 15 00:01:38,220 --> 00:01:46,900 We see the great in every girl, we recognize it, we tell them to keep going at the pace of girls until they see it too. 16 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,780 Sometimes things get hard, but at least for me. 17 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,780 9th grade year, they used to call us fresh meat. 18 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,700 I thought school was like a playground, a very fun place to be. 19 00:04:37,820 --> 00:04:40,900 Until I got into a grade with my graduation requirements didn't meet. 20 00:04:41,020 --> 00:04:43,880 We think graduation is not that serious. 21 00:04:44,820 --> 00:04:48,160 We're not at 12th grade, so we're just playing around until we do usual. 22 00:04:49,180 --> 00:04:52,140 Minutes, seconds, hours, they fly. 23 00:04:53,140 --> 00:04:56,060 Weeks, months, years, here's your lot 2025. 24 00:04:56,540 --> 00:05:01,140 One more month till I graduate and I was gone serious. I blame my teachers as if they 25 00:05:01,140 --> 00:05:09,040 was the villains, but then what about me? Did I take a serious? Did I put my all in? Did 26 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:14,400 I try? Is it too late? Do I say forget it all or do I cry at eight tests? Different days 27 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:19,180 ready to give up. Thank you to myself, I was selfish. I have no luck. Now it's time to put 28 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:25,000 my all in. I won't give in and I shall not fall. One more test where I have to risk it all, 29 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,840 But I shouldn't. I knew what I was missing. I just never paid attention. All the 30 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:33,140 sounds was there. It was easy. I just should have listened. Started with nothing 31 00:05:33,140 --> 00:05:39,160 or coming to pace. Not knowing I was coming here with a 0.17 GPA. Nothing to show 32 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,980 for that I tried. So it was time to do what I needed. All I needed was support and 33 00:05:42,980 --> 00:05:47,380 help to make it through with that. Support and help look what I grew into. GPA is 34 00:05:47,380 --> 00:05:51,640 over 2.0 and I have a graduation day. It was ups and downs. But look at me now 35 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:57,160 today and I say this the same. All you have to do is try. Take this year's if you 36 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,020 want to come to the real world and survive it gets rough sometimes but that's 37 00:06:01,020 --> 00:06:05,500 fine but you have to get up and push through it sometimes. I believe in all 38 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:09,280 girls that pace has most believed in me and I want every girl here to achieve 39 00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:14,380 and be productive and least successfully like me. My name is Amelia Crawford and 40 00:06:14,380 --> 00:06:15,640 I have to enter my speech. 41 00:15:08,530 --> 00:15:19,730 Good afternoon. My name is Jocelyn, and I was honored to receive the 2024 Amanda Horn Promise Award. This annual award honors Amanda Horn, a former 42 00:15:19,730 --> 00:15:36,370 Pace Board member, co-chair of Pace Capital Campaign, and a true leader who consistently shows up for our community. The award is inspired by a movement that speaks deeply to Amanda, because I said I would. A global movement about 43 00:15:36,370 --> 00:15:42,570 battering humanity through promises made and kept. Its message is simple but powerful. 44 00:15:43,310 --> 00:15:48,130 We can change the world by showing up for ourselves and for others. 45 00:15:49,330 --> 00:15:54,890 And if you know Amanda Horn, you know she lives that message every day. While Amanda can 46 00:15:54,890 --> 00:16:00,270 be here today, she's in the mountains of North Carolina. I'm incredibly honored to announce this 47 00:16:00,270 --> 00:16:06,410 years recipient. This year's award goes to someone I deeply admire. Over time I've 48 00:16:06,410 --> 00:16:12,330 watched my friend grow into a strong, confident young woman. She's worked hard to 49 00:16:12,330 --> 00:16:18,190 shift her mindset, overcome challenges, and go after her goals. She's always pushing 50 00:16:18,190 --> 00:16:23,210 the rest of us to stay focused. Do our schoolwork and believe in what we're capable of. 51 00:16:23,730 --> 00:16:27,750 She even went all the way to Tallahassee to speak with lawmakers about how 52 00:16:27,750 --> 00:16:32,210 how Pays has changed her life, paying it forward so more girls get the same chance. 53 00:16:32,990 --> 00:16:36,910 To me, she's more than a friend, she's a role model and an inspiration. 54 00:16:37,630 --> 00:16:42,130 And one day, when she becomes a police officer, I know she'll show up for her community 55 00:16:42,130 --> 00:16:43,910 just like she's shown up for us. 56 00:16:44,390 --> 00:16:51,370 Please join me in congratulating the 2025 Amanda Horn Promise Award recipient, Mimi Crawford. 57 00:17:11,460 --> 00:17:12,340 Let's 58 00:17:59,350 --> 00:18:00,990 give these ladies another round of applause. 59 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:19,140 Good evening graduates, families, faculty, mentors, and friends. 60 00:18:20,580 --> 00:18:29,640 Today we gather to celebrate something extraordinary, not just the completions of credits or 61 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:39,760 The past and exams, but the triumph of resilience, the power of transformation and the beauty 62 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:45,240 of a second chance to our peace graduates, you did it. 63 00:18:46,020 --> 00:18:51,880 And maybe for a long time someone made you feel like you wouldn't. 64 00:18:51,880 --> 00:19:00,220 you heard words like trouble too much not enough or at risk but today and 65 00:19:00,220 --> 00:19:08,500 every day after this let the words define you to be powerful, capable, brilliant 66 00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:15,980 and unstoppable because look at you now. Each of you have walked the role that 67 00:19:15,980 --> 00:19:24,620 most people could never imagine. Feel with obstacles, pains, moments where giving up might 68 00:19:24,620 --> 00:19:32,800 have felt easier than going on. But you didn't give up. You didn't give in and you didn't give out. 69 00:19:33,620 --> 00:19:41,280 You showed up. You did the work. You grew. You fought for yourself. And today you walked 70 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:49,240 across the stage, not just as graduates, but as warriors, as survivors, as leaders. 71 00:19:50,340 --> 00:19:52,620 Paces more than a school. 72 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:54,700 It's a safe haven. 73 00:19:55,640 --> 00:20:00,880 It's a place where healing and learning work hand in hand. 74 00:20:01,940 --> 00:20:10,040 Where staff members become champions for potential, where girls like you become young women ready 75 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:16,860 to shape the world. Graduates, you're not just crossing the stage today. You're crossing 76 00:20:16,860 --> 00:20:24,720 into a new chapter of possibilities. And I want you to remember three key components. 77 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:33,440 Your voice matters. Your journey is uniquely yours. And you already have what it takes. 78 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:40,440 and then I break it down for you. Your voice matters. Use it. Speak truth. 79 00:20:40,940 --> 00:20:47,960 Advocate for yourselves and others. The world needs stories. Your strength. Your 80 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:56,060 ideas. Let no one ever silence the power of you ever again. Your journey is 81 00:20:56,060 --> 00:21:02,780 uniquely yours. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Whether you become a nurse 82 00:21:02,780 --> 00:21:08,920 artists, a teacher, a leader, or an entrepreneur, what matters is that you're moving forward. 83 00:21:10,580 --> 00:21:17,900 Denzel Washington once said, don't confuse movement with progress because you can run 84 00:21:18,220 --> 00:21:21,080 in place and not gain movement. 85 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,760 You already have what it takes. 86 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,740 You've learned to survive and now it's time to thrive. 87 00:21:27,740 --> 00:21:37,660 You develop courage, grit, compassion, perseverance, those are ingredients for success in any part of life. 88 00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:42,660 To the families and loved ones here today, thank you for believing in these girls. 89 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:47,020 To the staff and mentors at pace, you have done your job. 90 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:52,180 You have changed lives, but today belongs to the graduates. 91 00:21:52,180 --> 00:21:59,320 Several of you have already chosen the path and plan to attend local colleges or universities 92 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:06,040 including Manatee Technical College, College of University, or State College of Florida. 93 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:13,520 If you wish to pursue a higher education, pace is fortunate to have scholarships available 94 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:18,280 through the generosity of Brian and Nancy Coleman Fun. 95 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:23,640 To the class of 2025, you're not just a success story, 96 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,420 you're authors of your next chapter. 97 00:22:27,340 --> 00:22:30,780 Go write it bold, go write it fierce, 98 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:32,620 and go write it free. 99 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,040 Congratulations, please, graduates, 100 00:22:35,660 --> 00:22:38,160 the world is better because of you. 101 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:39,100 Thank you. 102 00:22:56,350 --> 00:22:58,170 I know I chose the order, 103 00:22:58,290 --> 00:23:00,070 but in the future someone remind me, 104 00:23:00,230 --> 00:23:02,010 I don't want to go after Omar. 105 00:23:04,210 --> 00:23:05,310 Thank you, Omar. 106 00:23:05,310 --> 00:23:12,130 and thank you to Managee County School District for entrusting the education of our girls to pace. 107 00:23:12,910 --> 00:23:18,790 I am Amy Wick-Mavis and I have the deep honor of serving as the Executive Director for 108 00:23:18,790 --> 00:23:30,030 PACE Center for Girls. On May 4, 1995, 30 years ago, I walked into pace for the very first time. 109 00:23:30,030 --> 00:23:35,510 Like most of our girls, I wasn't quite sure what I was walking into. 110 00:23:36,130 --> 00:23:40,810 I spent most of my career working with boys, a school that only served girls. 111 00:23:41,430 --> 00:23:45,230 That was new for me, but I thought, I'll give it a try. 112 00:23:45,730 --> 00:23:49,470 If it doesn't work out, I can always go somewhere else. 113 00:23:50,050 --> 00:23:51,830 Sound familiar to any paste girls? 114 00:23:53,490 --> 00:23:54,890 But something happened. 115 00:23:54,890 --> 00:24:03,110 I found myself surrounded by young women with enormous strength, not the loud obvious 116 00:24:03,110 --> 00:24:10,690 kind, although it gets very loud at pace, but the quiet, persistent kind, the kind of 117 00:24:10,690 --> 00:24:18,550 strength it takes to get out of bed when everything feels heavy, to show up when life has 118 00:24:18,550 --> 00:24:28,850 told you not to bother to hope even when it hurts. And I stayed because you are worth 119 00:24:28,850 --> 00:24:37,070 staying for. Today is your day. Some of you completed your high school requirements 120 00:24:37,070 --> 00:24:45,690 months ago. Others literally passed the algebra EOC two weeks ago. But all of you crossed 121 00:24:45,690 --> 00:24:57,230 the line. All of you arrived. And today we pause everything to celebrate you, not just for graduating, 122 00:24:57,790 --> 00:25:05,630 but for refusing to give up. When you first came to pace, you didn't know if a day like this was 123 00:25:05,630 --> 00:25:15,010 even possible. Maybe people in your life told you it wasn't possible. Maybe even the voice in your 124 00:25:15,010 --> 00:25:24,270 own head told you it wasn't. Maybe it was hard to believe in anything. But we 125 00:25:24,270 --> 00:25:32,590 believed in you until you could believe in yourself. And here you are a high 126 00:25:32,590 --> 00:25:40,850 school graduate. That is not a small thing. That's a goal achieved one step at a time. 127 00:25:41,750 --> 00:25:45,990 You've overcome obstacles that would have broken others. 128 00:25:46,850 --> 00:25:49,630 Some of you were told you were too far behind. 129 00:25:50,530 --> 00:25:54,250 Some of you were managing more than anyone your age ever should. 130 00:25:55,490 --> 00:26:02,050 Some of you face loss, fear, instability, and still found a way to keep going. 131 00:26:02,830 --> 00:26:11,610 You went to school through a pandemic, when everything felt uncertain, and while many 132 00:26:11,610 --> 00:26:13,490 gave up, you did not. 133 00:26:14,230 --> 00:26:19,330 You kept showing up even when it was hard, even when no one saw. 134 00:26:20,410 --> 00:26:21,370 We saw you. 135 00:26:22,390 --> 00:26:24,650 We saw you come tired but determined. 136 00:26:25,090 --> 00:26:26,670 We saw you push through setbacks. 137 00:26:26,670 --> 00:26:33,170 We saw you sacrifice summers, sleep, and sometimes hope, but you kept reaching. 138 00:26:34,070 --> 00:26:36,390 And now, look around. 139 00:26:37,350 --> 00:26:42,270 Look at the people who are here who never stop curing you on. 140 00:26:43,530 --> 00:26:49,870 The pace girls sitting right back there, they see you. 141 00:26:50,470 --> 00:26:53,390 And they want to be you. 142 00:26:53,390 --> 00:27:05,020 So your families who were scared and unsure still stood by you, parents, take a deep breath. 143 00:27:05,740 --> 00:27:09,300 Anyone remember that very first meeting with Miss Randy? 144 00:27:11,090 --> 00:27:17,980 The questions, the fears, the uncertainty, look where your daughters are now. 145 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:27,080 Let that moment sink in. 146 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:36,420 And our paced team, the ones who dreamed of this day for you even before you believed 147 00:27:36,420 --> 00:27:41,780 it was possible, can our paced staff stand up? 148 00:27:52,610 --> 00:28:01,240 These are the people who loved you enough to hold you accountable, to push you, to sit 149 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:08,720 with you when things felt impossible, they have carried your stories in their hearts. 150 00:28:10,180 --> 00:28:17,140 And to our community supporters, many of whom don't even know your names. 151 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:19,200 Thank you. 152 00:28:20,060 --> 00:28:26,720 Your belief in these young women has rewritten the trajectory of their lives. 153 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:31,140 You didn't just give to a program. 154 00:28:31,900 --> 00:28:36,600 You invested in hope, and healing, and possibility. 155 00:28:37,940 --> 00:28:44,520 And today, this moment is the return on your investment. 156 00:28:46,830 --> 00:28:55,870 Girls, when you came to us, we made you a promise that we would believe in you until you were 157 00:28:55,870 --> 00:29:03,830 fully able to believe in yourselves. Today, I want you to feel that deep in your heart, 158 00:29:04,250 --> 00:29:12,610 because the world is waiting for what you bring, your resilience, your strength, your 159 00:29:12,610 --> 00:29:22,370 story. This diploma you're receiving today is not just paper. It's proof. Proof that you 160 00:29:22,370 --> 00:29:31,650 You made it! Proof that you are capable of rewriting your story. Proof that you are 161 00:29:31,650 --> 00:29:36,170 more than your past, that you are ready for what is next. 162 00:29:37,950 --> 00:29:47,570 I have been to many past graduations, but every time, every single time, it feels like 163 00:29:47,570 --> 00:29:56,150 the first, because what you have accomplished is not ordinary, it is extraordinary, 164 00:29:59,490 --> 00:29:59,970 it is 165 00:31:33,550 --> 00:31:39,190 Judge Jocelyn, and I would like to thank Ms. Leah for helping me all the time when I was at 166 00:31:39,190 --> 00:31:44,710 pace academically. And I would like to thank Ms. Yolanda for helping me emotionally, and 167 00:31:44,710 --> 00:31:50,110 I would like to thank my little sister, my mom, my grandma, and my grandpa, and everyone 168 00:31:50,110 --> 00:31:50,470 at pace. 169 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:57,740 Something I would tell my younger self is, you got to no matter what you do, and 170 00:31:57,740 --> 00:32:01,960 to believe in yourself, because you are the only motivator in your life. 171 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:02,940 My 172 00:32:48,250 --> 00:32:58,330 name is Jennifer. I'm a 2025. He's graduated and I want to think this Leah for being very proud of me and always motivating me to finish my work. 173 00:32:58,830 --> 00:33:04,190 And I also want to thank my parents, my mom and dad. They were my biggest supporters since day one. 174 00:33:05,190 --> 00:33:11,750 And they've always told me to always pay attention and work hard in school. And I want to thank them. 175 00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:19,400 something I would tell my younger self is to not be afraid of change changes how 176 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,160 we grow especially within ourselves. 177 00:33:47,610 --> 00:33:49,450 Hi, my name is Vanessa. I would like to thank 178 00:33:49,450 --> 00:33:53,890 Miss Yalanda and my family and friends for pushing me to keep going and not to 179 00:33:53,890 --> 00:33:54,350 give up. 180 00:33:57,590 --> 00:34:01,170 Something I would like to tell my younger self is to not give up to keep 181 00:34:01,170 --> 00:34:03,930 going no matter what people are telling you. My 182 00:34:29,310 --> 00:34:30,650 name is Dezari. I just want to thank 183 00:34:30,650 --> 00:34:33,390 my mom. She was there for everything. Hi, 184 00:35:02,580 --> 00:35:04,720 my name is Kira. I just want to say thank you 185 00:35:04,720 --> 00:35:10,020 to everyone at pace but especially Miss Yolanda and Miss Leah for always being there for me 186 00:35:10,020 --> 00:35:16,840 emotionally, academically and every way possible and also I want to say the biggest thank you 187 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:22,980 to my family and my friends for sticking beside me and always believing in me and yeah thank you 188 00:35:22,980 --> 00:35:23,560 guys. 189 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:32,360 What I would say to my younger self is keep going and always be proud of yourself for all 190 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:33,320 with the little teammates. 191 00:35:34,100 --> 00:35:34,300 My 192 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:20,620 name's Ruby and I would like to thank my mom and my dad 193 00:36:20,620 --> 00:36:22,460 for all the support that they give me 194 00:36:22,460 --> 00:36:25,920 and my siblings for always standing behind me 195 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:27,980 and making me so supportive. 196 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:34,640 Something I would tell my younger self is 197 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:37,900 to not give up and to keep trying because you can do it 198 00:36:37,900 --> 00:36:41,180 and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. 199 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:19,600 And all the case, community, something 200 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:24,320 I would tell 201 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:28,020 my younger self is, you'll be okay, you got it 202 00:37:28,020 --> 00:37:31,720 under any circumstance and you can do anything you want as long as you believe. 203 00:38:08,130 --> 00:38:13,610 Hi, my name is Mia and I would like to thank all the past staff members such as 204 00:38:13,610 --> 00:38:17,630 Ms. Mia, Ms. Neil, and a little bit of time I did have a worse Annie. 205 00:38:18,650 --> 00:38:23,670 And I would also like to thank my grandma, which is my mom, my Thica and my cousin. 206 00:38:24,090 --> 00:38:29,750 They never gave up on me and they always encouraged me to graduate and I didn't look 207 00:38:29,750 --> 00:38:31,170 because of all of them. 208 00:38:31,170 --> 00:38:39,740 I would also like to thank my mom who never let me give up and she pushed me 209 00:38:39,740 --> 00:38:45,980 every single day and she is my superwoman and she motivated me every day. 210 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:57,760 Something I was telling my younger stuff is don't let the obstacles get in your way and you came along 211 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:00,480 and you graduated and you did it.