05/29/2026

Students cheered on as they receive diplomas at Leonard Kirtz School

Alex Imwalle

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities celebrated its newest graduates on Friday.

It held the ceremony at the Leonard Kirtz School, where three students took the stage to accept their diplomas.

They were joined by family, friends and faculty cheering them on.

“It’s definitely a little bit more personalized ceremony because, as you heard our principal say, it’s not about the numbers. You don’t measure it on how many kids graduate. It’s about the journey that they took to get there. And you saw all that support in that room that helped them get to that point in their life,” Superintendent Bill Whitacre said.

Superintendent Bill Whitacre says this is just the beginning for these three graduates, and the school’s staff will continue to help them as they move on to their next journey.