Cyndi Loza

Carolina Lopez’s high school graduation ceremony will be sweeter knowing her 2-year-old daughter is watching from the audience.

“It’s a big relief to finally graduate,” said Lopez, 18, a senior at the Academy for Career Education charter school. “Just knowing I can give the best to my daughter and myself.”

Lopez was among the mothers in the Teen Success program that was honored Wednesday at the Donor Appreciation and Teen Success Luncheon. The program, coordinated through Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, supports teen mothers and stresses academics and parenting skills.

For most of the mothers, graduating high school is a milestone, said Erin Schweber, a group facilitator.

“I think it holds a special significance to these girls,” Schweber said. “For a lot of them, they’re the first in their families to ever graduate high school and go on to college.”

The program encourages higher education through college scholarships, which can be as much as $2,000.

Lopez and Washoe High senior Sarielyann Yaeger received the Morgan Scholarship Wednesday. Yaeger plans to use the money to pursue a nursing degree at Truckee Meadows Community College. She said her ultimate goal is to finish college and open a low-cost or free clinic for pregnant teenagers.

“Education is important to me,” Yaeger said. “I didn’t want my son to carry the burden of being the first (in his family) to finish college.”

Teen Success convenes about 24 teenage mothers and expectant mothers once a week for two-hour sessions. Child-care and transportation reimbursement is provided.

Lopez recommends the program to all teen parents but, above all, suggests they continue their education.