Student travels long road for diploma

Edgar Ribachauskas To ensure he would graduate from high school Edgar Ribachauskas, 18, left his Las Vegas home to attend Indian Hills High School in Calabasas.

Short 100 units when he arrived at Indian Hills in September 2007, Ribachauskas had to work day and night to meet the graduation requirements.

He blamed his shortcomings in Las Vegas on laziness and his inclination to be easily influenced by his friends.

"I thought it would be almost too late, (but) here it's just a lot easier to learn," Ribachauskas said.

He found his way to Indian Hills High through his lifelong friend, Candice Sutherland of Calabasas. Sutherland's grandmother, Nancy Ferguson, who also lives in Calabasas, agreed to help the boy she had known since he was 8 years old as long as he followed some strict rules while living with her during the school year.

"He hadn't gone to school for 18 months," Ferguson said. "I didn't have time to fool around. I told him these are the rules, this is the contract . . . this is what you have to do."

What Ribachauskas had to do was go to school during the day and work a part-time job and complete independent study courses at night.

"I got motivated by my friend's grandma," Ribachauskas said. "She told me to go to school every day."

Making up so many units in such a short period of time was a challenge, but Ribachauskas became so driven he'd completed a total of 106 units by the time he graduated last week.

"All the teachers are great," he said. To his surprise, English became a favorite subject, and his English teacher Jack Maranto was a positive influence. Ribachauskas said the individualized attention he received helped him focus and complete mounds of work.

Ribachauskas considered enlisting in the Navy but instead decided to attend culinary school in Las Vegas. He received a scholarship from Calabasas Custom Catering.

"He's a good kid; I'm proud of him," Ferguson said. "He did everything he was asked to do."

Indian Hills Principal Jeanette Ober said Ribachauskas came to school all the time and worked diligently to meet his goals. "He's really a super kid who has really pulled himself out."