With a sense of jubilation and finality the Cook County I.S.D. 166 graduating class of 2017 celebrated by throwing their caps into the air following the graduation ceremony held Saturday, June 3 in the Cook County High School gymnasium. All told 37 seniors received diplomas in front of a gym full of parents, relatives, friends, and well-wishers, all of whom were on hand to see the kids end one part of their lives and begin the long journey into what is hoped will be a very successful adulthood.
Anticipation and excitement were high for the 107th high school graduation to take place at Cook County High School on Saturday, June 3.
Before the 37 graduates received their diplomas from Superintendent Dr. William Crandall and threw their graduation caps high in the air in celebration, they got some good advice from several people.
Principal Adam Nelson welcomed the class after they had filed in and taken their seats while the high school band played “Pomp and Circumstances.”
Nelson told them the word he came up with to describe this group was growth. “Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Without continued growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.’”
Nelson further stated, “As a class of 2017 we have seen continued growth. We have seen improvement. We have seen achievement.” The key, said Nelson, was to keep growing and setting new goals.
Superintendent Crandall welcomed the audience and told the seniors, “Today is your day. This is for you. It’s all about you.” He read a quote from Robert Maynard Hutchins, dean of Yale Law School, “The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.” Dr. Crandall said the teachers and staff at I.S.D. 166 had worked towards that goal, and he told the students that their first challenge was to set new goals, get a job, travel, go to college or trade school. “Whatever your next accomplishment, keep learning continually and accept new challenges.”
Hannah VanderHeiden, the only senior to sing in the choir this year, received a big hug from choir director Erica Ternes.
Noah Roth, valedictorian, and Marin Hay, class salutatorian, each gave short speeches. Hay ended her speech by saying as she and her classmates moved forward in life to look beyond, “Not what our plans are, but what drives our purpose.”
Roth finished with, “From this moment on, the future’s in our hands, so let’s make the most of it.”
A short introductory speech firmly in her right hand, Hannah Toftey walked past her classmates to introduce the 2017 high school graduation feature speaker Mitch Dorr.
Roth and Jack Viren then sang and played on guitars the John Denver classic song Country Roads.
High school history instructor Mitch Dorr was the keynote speaker. In short, Mr. Dorr’s advice to the new grads was to — at least for a portion of each day – shut off their cell phones, video games, TVs, etc., starting with five minutes of silence and build from there. “Our lives are full of noise,” he said. In silence, said Dorr, “We learn to accept ourselves.” He encouraged the students to write a letter to someone instead of texting. He encouraged them to, “Know yourself. Be comfortable in your own shoes,” he added.
Senior Julia Larsen put together the senior slide show, which was one of the highlights of the day.
While it was the students’ day, the biggest round of applause and a long standing ovation went to someone who couldn’t be there. During Mitch Dorr’s speech, he asked the audience to turn toward the camera and give an ovation to Ivy Church, who taught at the school for 39 years. Church retired suddenly this winter to be with her daughter who is going through a second bout of cancer.
Jack Viren (Left) and Noah Roth teamed up to sing John Denver’s classic Country Roads. Roth, a fine singer, was also this year’s class valedictorian.
As the class received their diplomas they were greeted by Dr. Crandall, Principal Adam Nelson, school board chair Sissy Lunde, Anishinaabe Advisor Lena Santos, faculty member Michael McHugh, school counselor Kris Hoffman, Mitch Dorr, and technology coordinator John Jacobsen. The CCHS band, led by director Brianna Volbrecht, played a recessional as the kids marched out of the gym.
Junior ushers for graduation were Maya McHugh, Bryn Soland, David Blackburn and Ezra Lunde.
As the class scattered to graduation parties, or to their houses, or somewhere else altogether, their class motto came to mind, “You may not miss us, but you will never forget us.”
True, you will not be forgotten, but missed? Quite certainly they will missed. Best of luck class of 2017!
Left: As the band played Pomp and Circumstances” the class of 2017 entered and took their seats. Here Brooke Sherer and Sam O’Phelan walk to the front of the room. Above: Marin Hay was this year’s salutatorian.
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