Sunrise Children’s Services has recently celebrated three high school graduates in its independent living program. One graduated in the Cumberland region, another in the Owensboro area. A third graduate, named Austin Burns, recently graduated from McCracken County High School.

Austin transitioned into Sunrise independent living in Paducah from a Sunrise foster home, also in the Paducah region. He completed his high school credits in December 2022, and officially graduated and walked in May 2023.

“Austin is currently working full time at FiveStar gas station, has transitioned well into the independent living program, and is in the process of enrolling in West Kentucky Community and Technical College for the fall 2023 semester,” said Sunrise Independent Living Specialist Misty Reynolds. “Austin is not 100% sure of course of study, but he is leaning toward something in the mechanical field, thus planning to attend the technical program in hopes to obtain a certificate of training and job placement within the next year.”

Reynolds also shared that Austin was first in his immediate biological family to graduate from high school and will be the first to attend college.

Austin and the other two graduates are just a few examples of many success stories in Sunrise’s independent living program. Through this program, Sunrise helps 18-to-20-year-olds find housing, jobs, and education by surrounding them with a care plan team that includes a Christian mentor.

To find out more about Sunrise’s independent living program, visit https://www.sunrise.org/venture-on/