BILLINGS — Two years ago, Emily Pennington crossed the stage at her Billings West High School graduation, a moment her mother Jana Pennington described as incredibly exciting despite the challenges her daughter faced.

“She's accomplished something with difficulties that other kids have not had to deal with, you know, physical and academic,” Pennington said in an interview this week.

Emily, now 22, continues to stay active in the Billings community, volunteering at a preschool.

Watch Jana Pennington talk about the journey Emily has had: After class action lawsuit a Billings family reflects back on aging out policy

The path taken by Emily, who has special needs, to graduate wasn’t without obstacles.

The Billings community watched as Emily’s mission to graduate was temporarily placed

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