Olivia Thomas and Sorianna Lugo will graduate this June with their class at Lapeer Community High School (LCHS).
That wasn't always certain, though.
The two students have embraced the learning and social environment at LCHS, housed at the Center for Innovation (CFI, former Lapeer West High School), and with the guidance of CFI staff, have immediate plans for their futures after graduation.
Both Thomas and Lugo spoke at the April 8, 2026, Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education meeting to share their experiences.
"I came here from (a neighboring district) and then I was online before coming here with no friends at all," said Thomas. "The teachers and students were very welcoming. Nobody was rude and everyone was right behind you. Everyone is so supportive here. Even if you are excited about something small, they get excited with you. I came here two years ago with zero credits and was not motivated to do anything with school whatsoever.
"Towards the end of the first semester, I got accepted into Mott Community College for nursing. Mrs. (Sara) Taylor helped me a lot through the process and I feel it will be an easy transition going from high school to college."
"CFI is a smaller group of kids and you really build relationships with the teachers," added Lugo, who has been a student at CFI all four years of high school. "We are a very connected group of kids here and there's not really any drama. It's an open community where everybody talks to everybody. The teachers are really invested in you and your work. It's overwhelming to be in a big group of students and you don't get that at CFI."
Thomas added that when she was going to start at CFI, she threw a fit and told her mother she wouldn't go.
Clearly, that changed.
"I was completely set on not going," Thomas said. "Once I did go, I was like, 'Wow.' This is genuinely one of the best schools I've been to. I didn't worry about what to do because the moment I stepped in, someone was helping me."
Lugo is also off to Mott in the fall, also looking to take nursing classes.
CFI is the main campus for LCHS, the district's in-person alternative high school education program. This program embodies the values of positive motivation, respect, honesty, time and space as students and staff collaborate together to ensure that all students develop employability, social, and academic skills for success in an ever evolving and diverse world.
Students at LCHS utilize the online Pearson Connexus Curriculum to earn and/or recover high school credits. Students are able to complete classes at their own pace with support from LCS certified teachers. The school also provides opportunities for authentic learning through project-based experiences, community involvement, and vocational education programs through the Lapeer ISD. Students who are successful at LCHS utilize many opportunities to gain confidence and experiences as they prepare for their future.
Shad Spilski, principal at CFI, said that making a difference in students' lives and giving them hope has always been a high priority at the building, including giving students that extra nudge they may need to get to graduation.
"You can see that something clicked for each of them," Spilski said. "One of the things we talk about at CFI is to get kids to expand their educational experience. So to have two students that want to give college a try is something that is very uncommon in our time at CFI, but we're seeing more and more of that. Sara and I have worked really hard with our counselor Jackie Music and it's really cool to see these kids grow and make a life for themselves."
If you have questions about programs at CFI or wish to learn more, please call (810) 667-2423, stop by the main office at 170 Millville Road, or visit Home | Center for Innovation.