Seneca Valley Class of 2017 graduates
JACKSON TWP — One of the duties for dog owners is to take their pooches for daily walks.
For one service dog, however, Friday night's walk was unlike any other.
Cruise, the 6-year-old Labernese guide dog for Seneca Valley High School student Alexys Smith, got to walk with honors on the main stage at NexTier Stadium with his own special cap.
Cruise walked on stage with Smith and the other 564 other graduating students.
“I'm really excited,” Smith said. “It's really cool that Cruise gets to wear a cap and walk with me. My grandma ordered the cap.”
Smith, who was stricken with blindness upon birth, was provided the dog by the Quebec, Canada-based MIRA Foundation just before she became a high school freshman.
Since then, Cruise has guided Smith through the school's hallways and classrooms, being receptive to other students and accepting treats.
Smith described the duo's partnership as a team effort.
“He gets me around obstacles and then I'm kind of in charge of knowing where we're going,” said Smith, who graduated with honors. “He eventually knew where all my classrooms were and where my desk was in each room. He would just lie there and sleep in class.”
Smith said Cruise was popular among students and teachers.
“I had one history teacher in 10th grade and she would give me treats to give to him,” she said.
Smith and Cruise also have fun outside the school, often visiting Graham Park in Cranberry Township for walks along the trails.
Heather Williams, Smith's mother, said Cruise has been beneficial to Smith's time in high school for her social life and her independence.
“I'm very proud of both of them,” she said. “They've done a phenomenal job and worked really well together. Everyone has been accepting and this is a wonderful school district that has been accommodating.”
Cruise will also be featured in the high school's yearbook.
The weather Friday evening held off for the graduating students, though the breeze made for some difficulty for students to keep their caps on their heads.
However, the students were eyeing the futures that awaited them.“You are standing on the foundation of your own bridge that will hopefully lead you to achieve the goals that you have decided for yourselves,” said school district superintendent Tracy Vitale to students. “I encourage you to embrace the unknowns as you build your future.”Vitale also told those in attendance the reason for the early graduation date is the replacement of the bridge entering the school district on Seneca School Road.Speaker-at-large Isabella Seman gave a speech encouraging people to embrace their uniqueness and use that to chase their dreams “without fear.”“We hope to take the lessons from the best times and our worst times that have made us stronger people for our future endeavors,” she said.Valedictorian Urvi Gupta and salutatorian Danielle Matz also gave speeches reflecting upon the students' time at Seneca Valley and wishing the best of wishes for the future.As for Smith and Cruise's future, they will continue to walk side-by-side.“They (dogs) work for about 10 to 12 years,” Smith said. “I should have him all through college.”Smith will study human services and child development education at Butler County Community College in the fall. She said she wants to work as a child life specialist after graduating college.As the students walked across the stage at the center of NexTier Stadium, the clouds moved away to make room for the evening sunshine.Smith and Cruise were escorted on stage by Williams. Cruise, with his mouth open and tail wagging, decided his cap was not comfortable enough for his head and shook it off to his side. The three received an ovation from the crowd that filled both bleachers on each side of the field.
