The close-knit Cook County High School Class of 2014 celebrated at the end of commencement exercises on Saturday, May 31 by sending mortarboards soaring.
Cook County High School Principal Adam Nelson welcomed the community to the commencement exercises of the Class of 2014 on Saturday, May 31, telling the graduates that this was a time of change for them, but adding that they have been experiencing change their entire lives.
Nelson said the students have been experiencing change their entire lives— first crawling, then walking, then hunting and fishing, then riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers. He brought some laughter when he added, then crashing dirt bikes and four-wheelers.
“Change is happening as we speak….A new chapter starts the moment you walk out of the building today…I wish you all the best luck, Class of 2014,” said Nelson.
Nelson introduced the CCHS Band, and said, “Senior band members, please join the high school band for your final performance.” The graduates in cap and gown joined their bandmates for a fabulous performance of the popular Frozen theme song, Let It Go.
Above: Happy graduates! (L-R) Cedar Adams, Suzy Burton, Sophie Honeder and Salutatorian Audrey Summers. Far left: Math Instructor Tim Dennison was an inspiring—and very funny—guest speaker. Left: Principal Gwen Carman presented her daughter Anna’s diploma along with a happy hug.
As the band members took their seats, the salutatorian and valedictorian were called forward. Valedictorian Anna Carman said, “I stand today here as a piece of an intricate puzzle. This puzzle is made up of 29 unique individuals, each bringing their own style and perspective to each situation we have encountered through the years… From tragedy to triumph, this class has come through it all.”
Carman shared some memories of her school days, noting that the Class of 2014 has always had the reputation of making a ruckus. “I remember when our teachers would move us because we were talking to the person next to us. This never worked well, because we’d just start talking to the next person.”
“Everyone was a friend to everyone,” she said.
Carman thanked the teachers, parents, and community members, who “carried, pushed and sometimes downright shoved us to this ceremony.” And to her classmates, she said, “Now it is time for us to go out and form new lives based on the foundation they have given us. I ask you all to remember your place in our puzzle and remember you have 28 places to go home to if things get tough.”
And she finished with a grin, “Go out, do great things and never be afraid to raise a ruckus!”
Salutatorian Audrey Summers said writing her speech was really hard. She said she didn’t have anything to say that hadn’t already been said. She didn’t have advice or deep reflections to share with her class. However, she said as she looked through family photo albums in preparation for her graduation party, she noticed how many of her classmates were in those pictures.
She said, “Altogether we had some remarkable times. There are only 29 of us, but that doesn’t matter. It actually made things better.”
Summers shared memories of school days, including time spent on the school grounds recording nature and playing in the creek, having sword fights, climbing trees—and falling out of trees. “It was crazy, but it was so great,” she said. “We were just having the time of our life together.”
A lot of these experiences happened because they lived in Cook County, an amazing place, Summers said. She noted that the Class of 2014’s typical, everyday lives might not have seemed special, but that is what has given them an extraordinary foundation for the rest of their lives.
A few tears were shed then as graduates Abbey Sutton and Joe Borud sang the poignant Bob Dylan song Forever Young.
Austrian Rotary exchange student Sophie Honeder spoke next, saying that giving the address was very difficult because English is not her first language and because she is a nervous public speaker. “But then I remember that I made it through a Minnesota winter which prepared me for just about anything!”
Honeder thanked her host parents, Dave and Patsy Ingebrigtsen and the community for making her feel so welcome. She said any sadness at being far from home and any frustration over language challenges was overcome by the friendships she had made. “It is an honor to be here today, to not only represent Austria, but the Class of 2014. Grand Marais will always be in my heart now, and one of my homes.”
Class President Megan Lehto introduced math teacher Tim Dennison, who the class had invited to be the commencement guest speaker. Dennison took a deep breath as he started his speech, and said, “Let me begin by saying how truly honored I feel to be standing in front of you today. But I have to say, it’s also truly terrifying!”
“I can teach anybody math any day of the week, but this public speaking thing is tough,” he said, but added that social studies teacher Mitch Dorr made him feel better when he assured him that no one ever remembers what the commencement speaker says anyway.
Dennison said he had stopped by graduation rehearsal earlier that day and said he had to admit that he felt a little sentimental. “Seniors, I wasn’t planning on saying this,” he said, “but I actually like you guys. I’ll miss you next year.”
Dennison went on to tease the students about the burning question that many of them asked him, “Are you a tree hugger—or a redneck?” The audience laughed as he described the students’ efforts to figure out where he fell on that spectrum.
Turning serious, Dennison encouraged students to prioritize the things they love, to “order your loves.” Everyone has selfish tendencies, himself included. Dennison talked about his life before marriage and a baby, saying it was “all about Tim.” He noted that he loved riding his motorcycle— before it broke down. He loves fly fishing for brook trout and that was okay, he said—as long as fly fishing was not all he cared about.
“The world needs each one of us,” he said. “But it does not need the disordered, selfish, ambitious us,” said Dennison. He told the graduates that they need to figure out what is most important to them—people, not things. “When you do this you’ll find some peace and a life with beauty and value.”
Dennison told the graduates that never again in their lives will a season be so clearly defined for them, the break between an ending and a new beginning. He said, “What you have done in this place does not distinguish you. What will distinguish you is what you do from here. More specifically what will distinguish you is if what you invest yourself in is worthy of that investment. Order the things you love, or they will order you.”
The traditional Senior Slide Show followed, introduced by business education teacher Jane Gellner, who gave kudos to Olivia Pehrson who doggedly pursued her classmates for photos for the show. Seniors sat together on the floor and the dignitaries who would soon be presenting diplomas turned their chairs around to watch the show that had the audience guessing which senior was which in amongst the silly baby pictures. The pictures chronicled the growing up years of the Class of 2014.
It was time then to present diplomas to the 29 members of the Class of 2014. Presenting the diplomas were Principal Nelson, Elementary School Principal Gwen Carman, School Board Representative Jeanne Anderson, Grand Portage Tribal Chair Norman Deschampe, Technology Coordinator John Jacobsen, retiring staff member Margy Skaarhaug, School Counselor Amanda Burggraff, Dennison and Gellner.
Three of the presenters stepped to the head of the line to present the diploma to his or her own child—Principal Carman to her daughter, Anna; Chair Deschampe to his daughter, Sarah; and Technology Coordinator Jacobsen to his son, Jonathan.
Once all the diplomas had been bestowed, Principal Nelson presented the Class of 2014 and caps were unceremoniously tossed into the air—one, belonging to Jacob Carlson—staying up in the rafters. A last little bit of ruckus for the extraordinary Class of 2014.
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