Area high schools are preparing for their commencement ceremonies in May and June and many high school seniors are eager to leave their classrooms to step into the workforce or continue their education and training.

While some students balance their schoolwork with part-time jobs or extracurricular activities the last few weeks, Hillcrest High senior Etiennemichel Camis-Bateman is fully immersing himself in everything his school has to offer.

Camis-Bateman is involved in cross country and track, cheerleading, the swim team, the school musical and the career club. In addition, he’s a Special Olympian, participating in Hillcrest’s unified soccer and basketball teams, as well as competing individually.

“He was born eight weeks premature in South Africa; I was told by doctors he wouldn’t survive,” said his mother, Michelle Camis, who named her son after a Paris cathedral. “Etiennemichel has had every diagnosis in the world, and we still don’t know what all he has; and it doesn’t matter. He’s making up for lost time.”

Camis explained in South Africa, where they lived, there were no special education options available to him after fourth grade, so she homeschooled him. When they moved to St. George for a few months, everything changed for her son.

“A lot of doors opened for him when we moved here. We couldn’t believe he could go to school, he could eat in the lunchroom with other kids, he could be in Scouts, that there were no restrictions. He went to an arcade, he learned to drive a bumper car, he learned to swim, to ride a bike. Every week, another door opened,” Camis said.

After briefly attending Olympus High, Camis-Bateman found his home at Hillcrest, where he has taken a range of classes, from theater to guitar.

“He first went out for cross country then he went to a school dance. He started going to football games. When he got to the game, the kids started giving him high-fives and hugging him; I felt like crying. They welcomed him instead of pushing him out. He has never had a single day of discrimination at Hillcrest. He goes to softball, lacrosse, basketball — every sport, almost every game,” she said.

Camis-Bateman is equally dedicated to his sports, often relying on rides from senior student body president Jack McDonough for practices.

“Etienne’s always super positive and in a great mood; he’s always saying we’re going to win and telling teammates that he’ll cheer for them in their races,” said McDonough, who said Camis-Bateman always is excited when his teammates do well. “He gets excited to compete; when Etienne trains or competes, he does it with great dedication and a great attitude. It’s always fun to cheer him on.”

Camis-Bateman’s enthusiasm for supporting others extended to his role as a cheerleader. Initially, his mother was unsure about him trying out for the squad.

“He’s not flexible; he is not coordinated. He cannot do the splits or a back flip,” she said, adding she expected he’d get a shirt and pom poms and just cheer alongside the team. “I was told, ‘No, it’s not going to go like that. He’s part of the team.’ To their credit, they’ve treated Etiennemichel as a member like the others; he got the Husky Heart Award for his school spirit. That was huge for him.”

Assistant Principal Andrew Yawn remembers the unforgettable moment during senior night for the cheerleaders at a basketball game.

“Etiennemichel came out for his senior night, and it was the loudest cheer,” Yawn said. “He’s a super nice kid. He goes out of his way to say hi and give me a high-five. He makes friends easily and the kids love him. He’s accepted. Hillcrest is a good community for everyone. I’m sure if he could, Etiennemichel would do every sport and every activity here if there was enough time.”

Recently, Camis-Bateman has added even more activities to his list. During job shadow day, he visited the legislature, where he spoke with lawmakers about restrictions faced by people with disabilities. Camis-Bateman also shared he is registered to vote. 

Outside of school, he played Charlie in a local production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” and has earned 30 athletic medals, including one from the St. George triathlon. Now, he’s preparing to run the Salt Lake half-marathon.

“I want to give it a try,” Camis-Bateman said. “I like running.”

Additionally, he volunteers training Golden Retrievers to assist people in need of emotional or physical support.

“I want people to be happy, to be with the dogs, to be loved, to have a friend,” Camis-Bateman said. “I want to work with animals. I want to be a veterinarian assistant.”

With just a few weeks left before graduation, Camis-Bateman isn’t finished yet. He is submitting a film for the school district film festival about his experiences with differing abilities both in South Africa and the United States. He is also planning to audition to speak at graduation, which falls just four days after his birthday.

“It’s something I want to do,” Camis-Bateman said. “I want people to know what the school means to me.”λ

Many area secondary schools are hosting commencement ceremonies this month and June. Here are some local graduations details. For more information, contact the schools.

Alta High – 2:30 p.m., May 29, at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Events Center in Orem.

Academy of Math, Engineering and Science — 3 p.m., May 29 at Cottonwood High School’s auditorium.

American Academy of Innovation — 6 p.m., May 28 at Viridian Event Center in West Jordan.

American Preparatory Academy — 2 p.m., June 7 on the school campus.

Beehive Science & Technology Academy — 7 p.m., May 22 at Salt Lake Community College’s Jordan Campus in West Jordan.

Bingham High — 8:30 a.m., June 4 at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Events Center.

Brighton High — 6 p.m., May 29 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City.

Corner Canyon High – 10 a.m., May 29 at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Events Center.

Cottonwood High — 2 p.m., May 28 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.

Diamond Ridge High – May 28, Alta High’s Performing Arts Center in Sandy; time yet to be announced.

Entrada High – 7 p.m., June 12 at Alta High’s Performing Arts Center.

Hillcrest High – 2 p.m., May 29 at the Maverik Center.

Jordan High – 9:30 a.m., May 29 at the Maverik Center.

Jordan Valley – 3 p.m., May 23 in the school multipurpose room.

Juan Diego Catholic High — 9 a.m., May 24 in the school’s auditorium.

Life Skills Academy – noon, May 28 at the school’s auditorium.

Murray High — 11 a.m., June 5 at the Salt Lake Community College’s Lifetime Activities Center on the Redwood Campus in Taylorsville.

Paradigm High — 4 p.m., May 29 at University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City.

River’s Edge — 1:30 p.m., June 6 at the school’s auditorium.

Valley High — 9 a.m., June 3 at Salt Lake Academy’s Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.

Waterford School — 7:30 p.m., June 5 on the school campus.