At the end of the graduation ceremonies, after hats have been flung high up into the air and graduates hug and high five, the departing seniors briskly walk in pairs through a crowd of well-wishers and family members towards their future outside of high school. Here, Josh Prom and Kaylee Pervais walk arm in arm, diplomas in hand, roses clenched in teeth, their broad smiles and joy seeming to spread and fill the whole gymnasium. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
There were a lot of happy people at the Cook County High School graduation that took place last Saturday in the high school gymnasium.
None happier, of course, than the 38 seniors who received their diplomas.
Following the band’s playing “Pomp and Circumstance” when the graduates walked in, there was a welcome from principal Megan Meyers and superintendent Dr. William “Bill” Crandall.
Next, Delwynn Deschampe performed the Honor Song.
Assistant Principal Mitch Dorr was up next, and he spoke about life lessons. Following Mr. Dorr band director Mikkel Haas led the band in playing “Jurassic Park” which was written by John Williams and arranged by Johnnie Vinson.
Then it was Salutatorian Jack Peck’s turn to address the audience, and Mr. Peck stole the show with his good-natured humor.
At one point, after seemingly stalling with a long run of funny questions with no answers, Jack said, “Why am I stalling with oh so many questions? Filling in time for this speech? I just want to thank the butchers and bakers and candlestick makers… one fish, two fish, three fish…” Before he finally got around to thanking his teachers and classmates who he had made friends with, he acknowledged coming filled with trepidations and fear from tiny Birch Grove Elementary to the giant Cook County High School.
Co-Valedictorians Will Surbaugh (L) and Leif Anderson entered the graduation ceremonies together and both gave speeches during the ceremonies. Leif has been attending college this past year at the University of Minnesota but he also participated in cross country running in the fall. Will should be a junior but he decided to work hard and graduate early. Photo courtesy of Bruce Johnson
In closing, Jack said, “I have made friends I will never forget, unfortunately… and, I was going to tell my life story, but I guess I will save it for another time.”
Co-Valedictorians Leif Anderson and Will Surbaugh spoke next.
Will said, “I’m not wise, not witty. I’m a 17-yearold kid.” He thanked his incredibly supportive parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, countless staff, and Mr. Dorr, “Who, I wasn’t sure before, but now I’m convinced lives here.”
While pointing out how lucky he was, Will didn’t fail to mention his “Classmates who have persevered and overcome obstacles,” and made it to graduation.
Leif Anderson cautioned his class to be “prepared for a world of unpredictability.”
In thanking teachers, coaches, parents, the school board and all who helped usher and educate the kids as they rose through school to graduation, he ended with a poem and a quote, from George Santayana. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Vocalist Alyssa Fenstad, accompanied by Andrea Larsen on the piano, filled the gymnasium with her beautiful rendition of Rise Up, by Andra Day.
When she was approached to be the keynote speaker, Sue Nelson, who has taught for 30 years, said she was deeply honored.
“I learn more from my students than they will ever know…You guys taught me a lot,” she said.
Sue’s theme was “worth.”
She took out a nice, clean wrinkle-free $20 bill and said she could spend it. “What’s it worth? It’s worth $20.”
Then she crumpled up the $20 bill. It was ragged and bedraggled. But at the end of the day, that ragged and bedraggled $20 bill, “Still has the same worth.”
The lesson was pointed and obvious, at the end of a hard day, she told the kids they weren’t diminished; they still had their same worth.
“Do an honest day’s work,” she said. Stay away from pettiness, jealousness, greed, having to be right all of the time, putting yourself in compromising positions, “it’s not worth it.”
When they felt down, she cautioned the kids to reach out to their support systems and said she would always be available to talk to.
“That diploma, that’s worth a lot. Many people have your best interests…
“Goodbyes are hard. I’m saying goodbye to a great class…Never forget that where this crazy world leads you, that you are good people.
“So good, so good.
“I wish you all well.”
Amy Carpenter, Ashleigh Precord, Hailey Smith and Aurora Schelmeske did a wonderful job in singing Alleluia and My Wish and then there was the senior slide show, which was put together by Reilly Wahlers.
Now it was time to hand out diplomas. Students came forward and were greeted by handshakes and some hugs by Dr. Crandall, Megan Meyers, Mitch Dorr, school board chair Sissy Lunde, Anishinaabe advisor John Morrin, faculty member reader Michael McHugh, faculty Chad Benish and Sue Nelson and then it was time to throw their mortarboard hats in the air as high as they could and march from the gym into a big new world.
Congratulations class of 2019. We are all wishing you the best!
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