Stuart - Sunday October 30, 2022: A memorial butterfly garden was dedicated on October 17 at the Clark Advanced Learning Center in honor of former student Eleni Deslis.
Eleni, who graduated from Clark in 2018 with both a high school diploma and an Associate Degree from IRSC, passed away unexpectedly on March 14, 2021. Her parents, Apostolos and Evangelia Deslis, donated to the IRSC Foundation in Eleni’s name to fund an annual Character Counts Student of the Year scholarship at Clark. The school partnered with the Deslis family to create a memorial butterfly garden at the school in Eleni’s honor. The butterfly garden was dedicated on October 17.
The Clark Advanced Learning Center is a Grade A public charter school organized in 2004 as a partnership between Indian River State College (IRSC) and the Martin County School District, is located on IRSC’s Chastain Campus in Stuart.
After graduating from Clark, Eleni attended Florida State University, graduating in December, 2020, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Her vision was to earn a Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology and help children with disabilities, having been born with physical disabilities herself. In addition to traditional Greek dance, Eleni enjoyed spending time with friends and family, photography, swimming, movies, and performing stand-up comedy at school and in her church group, her family said.
“The same way we view butterflies in nature, Eleni was kind and caring, emanating goodness in her short time here. The butterfly garden is a remembrance of Eleni and is a natural response to a sweet life gone too soon,” said Debra Kohuth, Indian River State College Dean of School of Education and former Principal at Clark Advanced Learning Center. “The Clark family has created a tranquil spot for students to sit and ponder their own transformations and achievements.”
About the Clark Advanced Learning Center
Located on the Chastain Campus of Indian River State College in Martin County, Clark Advanced Learning Center earned an “A” rating for the 14th year in a row in 2022 from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). Clark is in the top 20 of nearly 500 high schools in Florida, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Clark students begin their high school educations at a Martin County public high school to complete ninth grade or transfer from private schools, virtual school, or a home school education, then transfer to Clark for 10th through 12th grades. They are free to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities at one of the district high schools. For more information, visit clarkadvancedlearningcenter.org.