Best selling author speaks at Hadley graduation

Commencement speaker Richard Bolles, best-selling author of "What Color is Your Parachute?" Richard Nelson Bolles, author of the best-selling job-hunting book in history, “2006: What Color Is Your Parachute?” gave the commencement address for nine high school graduates on June 14, 2006 at The Hadley School for the Blind.

Born in Milwaukee, Mr. Bolles is hailed as “America’s top career expert” by Modern Maturity Magazine, and “the one responsible for the renaissance of the career counseling profession in the United States over the past decade” by Money Magazine. He has sold more than 8 million books. The Library of Congress recently placed “Parachute” on its list of “25 books that have shaped readers lives” throughout history. The only other living author on that list is Maya Angelou.

Mr. Bolles is the 2006 recipient of the National Samaritan Award. The National Samaritan Award recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to the education and health of individuals and families. Recipients of the award include First Ladies Barbara Bush, Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter. Other traits the award recipients have in common are: they personally and professionally exemplify the ideals and values of the Samaritan Ministry. The awards dinner will take place Nov. 2, 2006 in Denver, Colo.

The Hadley School for the Blind graduating students traveled to Winnetka from Ohio, Oregon, Indiana, Alabama, California and Michigan.

The Hadley graduating class of 2006 This exciting event recognized the successful academic accomplishments of: Donald R. Arnold of Umatilla, Oregon, Sara Brubaker of Middletown, Ohio, Danny Collins of Charlestown, Ind., Terri Doughman of Middletown, Ohio, Sonya Ergle of Haleyville, Al., Paul Goulette of Midland, Mich., Amy Green of Baker, Calif., Norma Griffith of Sterling, Mich. and Jennifer Hawkins of Swansea, Ill. The age range for the graduates was 22 to 50 years.

Pianist Woody Goss from the Midwest Young Artists provided music for this event and a reception followed the ceremony.

For all of these graduates, this diploma represents years of hard work and determination. High school graduation was the culmination of a lifelong dream that had all but been given up.