Graduates of Cranston’s Apprenticeship Exploration School walked into the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza in Warwick to loud cheers and applause last Friday in the conclusion of a well-traveled journey for many teenagers.

In navy blue gowns, the 2025 graduating class at AES, a charter school, said goodbye as its members received their diplomas and turned their tassels with friends and family cheering them on.

Principal Lindsey Tavares praised graduates on having the strength to overcome challenges and the resilience to reach the finish line.

“You are your perseverance,” she said, emphasizing the grit of the class to keep pushing through and noted the support system that helped the students along the way.

Tavares pointed out that seated right behind the graduates were AES teachers, which she said was by design.

“They have been behind you since the beginning – sometimes pushing you when you needed a nudge, sometimes steadying you when you wobbled and sometimes simply standing there believing in you when you didn’t believe in yourself,” Tavares said.

This year’s graduating class at AES numbered 44. With many diverse interests in the class, some are headed to college while others will start their careers.

According to Tavares, 12 graduates are going to General Construction as apprentices and will continue training with the Laborers’ International Union of North America. Five grads will start their employment in shipbuilding with General Dynamics Electric Boat.

Sixteen are headed to CCRI, four will be attending four-year colleges this fall, three are joining the armed forces and four will be apprenticeships/workforce training.