Valedictorian Cheyenne Sloan, 18, of Adrian, uses sign language as she practices her speech at rehearsal for The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf’s graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Swissvale. “It is a journey that requires us to be persistent, knock down barriers and have patience,” signed Sloan in her speech. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)
From left, valedictorian Cheyenne Sloan, 18, of Adrian, gets some help with her graduation gown from Colleen McHale, 18, of Sunbury, and salutatorian Ryane Smalley, 19, of Scranton, as they prepare to make the traditional march through the halls of The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf with other graduating seniors on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Swissvale. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)
“See the ability not the disability,” reads the graduation cap of valedictorian Cheyenne Sloan, 18, of Adrian, as she prepares to make the traditional march through the halls of The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf with other graduating seniors on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Swissvale. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)
From left, Colleen McHale, 18, of Sunbury, Cheyenne Sloan, 18, of Adrian, and Destiny Tanner, 18, of Uniontown, prepare to practice for their graduation ceremony at The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Swissvale. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)
From left, Cheyenne Sloan, 18, of Adrian, McKensy Therrien, 17, of Tarentum, Colleen McHale, 18, of Sunbury, and Ryane Smalley, 19, of Scranton, wait outside the auditorium doors to practice their entrance for The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf’s graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Swissvale. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Salutatorian Ryane Smalley, 19, of Scranton, receives cheers and high fives from staff and students as she makes her way through the hallway of The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf with other graduating seniors at the school on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Swissvale. “This is a second home to me. The staff and my friends have become a family,” said Smalley through interpreter Josh Walterhouse, of Trafford. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)In front row from left, graduating students Destiny Tanner, 18, of Uniontown, Cheyenne Sloan, 18, of Adrian, Ryane Smalley, 19, of Scranton, Colleen McHale, 18, of Sunbury, and Erika Alvarez-Vargas, 19, of Reading, pose for a group photo outside of The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf with other graduating seniors on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Swissvale. “I realized that this was the best place for my future,” said Smalley through interpreter Josh Walterhouse, of moving to Pittsburgh from Scranton to finish her high school years at the school. She is graduating with honors and plans on going on to study math in college. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)
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