Akron Early College Graduates Rejoice and Reflect during Reunion

Yvonne Culver made significant contributions to Akron Public Schools prior to her retirement last month.

And while she accomplished a great deal, one of Culver’s crowning achievements is the undeniably lasting impact on Akron Early College High School – an innovative, academically challenging institution she helped usher through its infancy in 2007.

Only days before her exit, Culver returned to the school to help celebrate – along with graduates, teachers and administrators – the nearly two decades of excellence that has come to define one of Summit County’s premier public schools.

“It was an amazing experience to help build a school from the ground up and to truly create the culture and climate you would like it to have,” said Culver, who spent seven years with the school before assuming the duties of Coordinator of School Counselors.

“Rarely do educators get to see the fruit of the seeds they plant. I am so glad Tom O'Neil gave his staff the gift of seeing the difference they’ve made in the lives of their students.”

On Dec. 18, nearly 40 of the high school’s graduates returned to engage in a conversation about how the school has evolved since opening its doors 18 years ago. The students, too, recalled the experiences that enlightened them and the teachers who inspired them to achieve beyond their imaginations. 

“I am so proud of our staff and our graduates,” said principal Tom O’Neill. “AECHS is a very special place for a number of reasons, but mostly the people.”

O’Neill is certainly among those who continue to shape the school’s culture and establish a degree of excellence amid the predictable challenges that come with launching something new. Then, having the audacity to push the envelope beyond sometimes-modest expectations.

“They (students) didn’t come here to fail,” a fired-up O’Neill said. “You come here to succeed. Like medicine, it doesn’t taste good going down, but it makes you feel better.”

It was a feel-good moment for many of the nearly 20 staffers who seemed thrilled to see their former students during an oft-emotional reunion during the holiday season.

Many of the students reflected on how their experience at Akron Early College impacted their lives. More importantly, how it influenced their lives beyond the classroom.

“Everyone here helped shape my academic career,” said Simara Vines, who recently earned her Master’s degree and is a policy analyst, “and I’m continuing to learn. My first two years here I felt like I was a permanent resident in Mr. O’Neill’s office because we were talking about so many things, and that helped me to become the person I am today.”

De’Moni Dobson, a 2020 graduate, recalled “suffering in silence” when he arrived at the school. But he credits the teachers for helping piece together his once broken past.

“All of you helped pave the way for my career,” said Dobson, a professional dancer who has performed on stages from Chicago to Los Angeles. “It just helped so much that I was able to do so much here.” 

Tyler Jones, who was among the first graduating classes, returned to become the school’s athletic director. 

“I work inside the building on day-to-day operations as well, and I would say the biggest impact for me is working with some of my older teachers that are still here,” he said. “I would say the biggest impact for me, though, being one of the oldest graduates, is seeing what the legacy class started.

“I had so much nostalgia when I walked into the Polsky Building because it was our everyday meeting spot in the morning. So, seeing how the school has grown from only 100 kids to more than 400 in my senior year is the biggest thing for me.”

D.J. Harvey, a 2016 graduate, said the school helped him mature. Admittedly, he had his doubts about attending AECHS.

“I never wanted to come here,” Harvey said matter of factly. “I was in trouble all the time, but I think it kind of helped me grow up and I found people here believed in me. I may not have believed in myself, but the teachers helped me work towards my dreams.”

Harvey realized many of his dreams, including playing professional football in Europe. At the same time, he got an education to become a college career advisor.

“I’m giving back,” he said. “It’s my passion, but it started with this school.”

For Grace Haydu, a 2022 graduate, the teachers’ unrelenting demands “truly saved me.” She shared her vulnerabilities – including a dysfunctional experience prior to arriving at the school.

“There were some things that I faced, but I didn’t have to face them alone while I was here,” said Haydu, who works as an adolescent suicide prevention counselor. “What you guys did for me here was make me feel like a human being. I’ve never seen anything like Early College. Nowhere do students succeed as they do here.”

Willie Vue, who received his undergraduate degree this past summer, credits Akron Early College for instilling discipline in his life. And that discipline led him to accept the challenge of becoming a Marine Corps officer at Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va.

“I want to reflect on not only what you guys did during school hours, but outside school hours,” said Vue, a 2022 graduate.

Ta’Juan Williams, a 2016 graduate who works as a programmer for Akron Public Schools, said he was overwhelmed when Culver and others embraced him as he adjusted to his new environment.  

“I didn’t have a support structure growing up, but I had that at Early College,” Williams said. “I had my mom and whatnot, but in terms of friends, I didn't really have that aside from a few people.”

In the case of David Haydu, getting accepted into AECHS was an achievement in itself, considering he suffered what he called “imposter syndrome.”

“I was always the kid that would get in trouble in class, you know, for talking too much,” he said. “I think the most important thing has been, you know, just how much you guys care about us as students. To take somebody who is so uncertain about themselves, and help turn them around.” 

Malcolm Ferguson, a 2018 graduate, has thrived as a therapeutic behavior specialist. It's something he hadn't imagined until enrolling at Akron Early College.

“I guess my biggest impact from y'all is just learning how to not give up because no matter how many times I tried to fail on purpose they wouldn’t let me,” he recalled. 

“There was always tough love,” said Raylyn Trice, now a lawyer for the City of Akron. “I remember turning in a paper 30 seconds late, and having a teacher trash it.” 

Still, those academic disciplines at Akron Early College remain. It’s a source of pride for both students and graduates who worked tirelessly in helping forge the school to elite status.