John Counts: Manistee News Advocate Staff Writer
Published: Monday, May 24, 2010
ONEKAMA -- The 2010 graduating
class of Onekama High School became the first to hold their
commencement ceremonies in the school’s gleaming new gymnasium
Sunday afternoon.
Before the 28 proud, beaming graduates received their hard-earned
diplomas from Principal Gina Hagen, they and the audience enjoyed a
ceremony filled with inspired speeches, music from the Onekama High
School band and a slide show featuring pictures of all the
graduates.
“You’ve been a good group,” said Onekama Consolidated Schools
superintendent Kevin Hughes. “I’ve known most of you since you were
little kindergartners. I can look over there right now and see some
of you big macho guys that I remember in kindergarten hanging on
their mommy’s dress that first day. I see a couple of girls over
there, one was running out into the hall all time because she didn’t
like school. We’ve seen you develop from little children into middle
school adolescents into wonderful young ladies and gentlemen.”
Hughes went on to thank the community for the financial support to
build the new additions on the school, which will be great for
future use.
He also pondered the past.
“We’ve been graduating students from this institution since 1895,”
Hughes said. “That’s quite an accomplishment for a small town.”
There was also a sad note to
the ceremonies: a moment of silence for Paul Foster, the Onekama
teacher who died in a fatal car accident recently. “It’s been a
tough week for us,” Hughes said. It did provide a lesson for the
students, though. “Do your best everyday. You never know when your
last day is going to be,” said Hughes.
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The superintendent was followed by
salutatorian Daniel Gillespie, who will go on to Michigan State
University. “Undoubtedly, we’ll remember the good times we had in
school,” Gillespie said. “The day we spent sledding on the school hill.
Our eighth grade class trip to Cedar Point. The field days we had on the
football field in middle school. And the memorable bus ride and class
trip to the Ford museum in Detroit. Those are memories that will stay
with us forever.”
Gillespie then went on to thank the teachers and families.
Following his speech, the audience was treated to a slide show created
by Lynn O’Connor and a musical interlude by the high school band.
Valedictorian Kailani Buckner then
addressed the crowd. “The most important thing is to keep a strong mind
and don’t lose focus for a second,” Buckner advised her graduating
class. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
After an acceptance of the graduates by Sally Koon, vice president of
the board of education, Hagen presented the class of 2010 with their
diplomas.
The 2010 class officers were president Danny Brown, vice president
Thomas Koon, secretary Buckner and treasurer Richard Superczynski.
Almost all of the 28 graduates will attended college. The graduates are:
Alicia Berryhill, Alex Block, Brown, Buckner, Chase Callaway, Cheyenne
Gauthier, Daniel Gillespie, Karl Hoadley, Ashley Hobart, Diamond Kimpel,
Edward Kockick, Koon, Joseph Kosiboski, Lucille Lee, Katlyn MacPherson,
Toni Makela, Jake Matthews, Kevin O’Connor, Joslyn Pomeroy, Katie
Prielipp, Sherece Revolt, Elizabeth Schoedel, Ashley Schultz,
Superczynski, Haley Vallie-Laws and Jordon Zupin. |
