Longmont's Calvary Open Door ESL/high school equivalency program celebrates 19 graduates
Dressed in caps and gowns, graduates in Longmont celebrated a major milestone Saturday evening: achieving their high school equivalency degrees.
During a bilingual ceremony at Longmont's Venture Church, graduates of the Calvary Open Door program received certificates of completion for passing their high school equivalency classes. This year's class had 19 graduates, with 13 attending the ceremony in person.
Barbara Ulrich, director of Open Door, said the Class of 2025 is the largest pool of graduates the program has had in its decade of operation.
Calvary Open Door is an academic prep program that helps adults work toward their high school equivalency degrees. Program participants take classes and tests at Venture Church, formerly Calvary Church, at 2101 Gay St.
Ulrich explained that students needed to pass five tests to graduate: reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Each graduate receives a diploma from the Colorado Department of Education.
'That is a huge accomplishment,' Ulrich said. 'It's been awesome for me to watch this journey.'
This year's graduates are Abel Villegas, Alma Berumen, Annallely Mesa, Dulce Guzman, Eloisa Bailon, Erika Leeticia Escalante, 'Faviola' Maria Gandara Bayona, Jose Matos, Juan Azdar, Juliza Hernandez, Luke Arnott, Maria Elena Rico, Maria de la Luz Rodriquez, Maria Soto Lozano, Martha Galvan Ceniceros, Oralia Macias, Tomas Scott, Valeria Aguilar Loera, and Wendy Clavel.
Ulrich said students of all ages and backgrounds come through the program. So far, the oldest student to participate in Open Door was 65.
'You're never too late to get your diploma,' Ulrich said.
Graduate Abel Villegas called getting his high school equivalency degree a 'significant step' for his life.
'The achievements in our lives are a reflection of what we do,' Villegas said. 'We have to work hard for the things that we want in the future.'
Villegas addressed his classmates, encouraging them to follow their dreams.
Luke Arnott, left, and Juliza Hernandez, hold up their Graduation Certificates during the group photo. There were 20 graduates in this year's Calvary Open Door ESL class. Graduates received their HSE diplomas from the Colorado Department of Education on April 26, 2025.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
'Turn your dreams into reality,' Villegas told them. 'Be brave. Life is not easy. It requires effort and commitment.'
Open Door teachers handed the graduates their certificates and congratulated them on reaching this point.
'Everybody in my class from last summer passed,' said Jodi Benson, a social studies teacher for Open Door.
Benson explained that most of the students had to balance responsibilities in their lives on top of their studies.
'They come back to school, maybe after having kids,' Benson said. 'Maybe they're taking these tests in English when their first language is Spanish.'
Ana Nieto, who supervises the testing center, said she's familiar with seeing the students nervous while taking their tests. The graduation ceremony, however, was a time for everyone to celebrate.
'When I see them here, I'm very proud of them,' Nieto said of the students. 'I know that it's not easy.'
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