Hats in hand, 2010 Cook County High School seniors get ready to take their first official action as graduates— flinging their caps ceremoniously into the air. Everything gets tougher from here on out, but few things are as memorable as this moment.
The 2010 Cook County High School 100th anniversary commencement involved a lot of standing ovations.
There was one for Mable Stolz, believed to be the school’s oldest living graduate— Class of 1929. Mable was there, sitting in the front row, and when her name was called, she walked to the center of the gymnasium and waved at the crowds filling the stands.
There was one for CCHS band director Bill Tormondsen–Class of 1961 – who directed the CCHS band from 1966 to 1971 and then spent 34 years directing high school bands in Duluth before retiring and picking up the baton again at CCHS for another four years. This was his last performance with the CCHS band—as far as anyone knows.
There was one for volunteer extraordinaire Eleanor Waha—Class of 1941– who according to K-12 principal Gwen Carman (and a lot of other people around here) “is a living, walking encyclopedia of Cook County history.” As if that wasn’t enough, “She is the epitome of what it means to be a Cook County volunteer,” Carman added.
Ethel Johnson and Paul Johnson flank Mabel Stolz who is talking to CCHS principal Gwen Carmen. Stolz was introduced as Cook County’s oldest known living high school graduate at last week’s commencement exercise. She was given a standing ovation.
Carman talked about her search for the oldest CCHS graduates. She tried to find Howard Joynes—Class of 1936—but he was too busy working down at Joynes Department Store and Ben Franklin to do an interview.
Carman did find a few ladies in the North Shore Care Center who sat around recalling memories of Cook County school life. She warned all the teachers at the ceremony that students never forget their teachers.
AFS students speak
This year’s three AFS students—Kristina Andelova from the Czech Republic, Raul Piccione from Spain, and Nuchada Srisittipoj from Thailand—went to the podium and thanked everyone who helped make their year in Cook County memorable.
“This year has been an amazing experience for me,” Srisittipoj said. She laughed as she recalled her experiences in school sports. “I like running now!” she said.
Drew Holmen delivered the thoughtful Valedictorian speech.
“Mr. Heine, you are the cutest teacher ever!” Srisittipoj said. She proudly demonstrated that she could now pronounce Mr. Dorr’s name correctly and said she enjoyed Mr. McHugh’s energy.
She talked about new experiences. “One of the things never, ever done in Thailand is skinny dipping!”
Srisittipoj thanked friends for special things they had done for her. She cried when she thanked her host family, Mark, Lori, Brock, and Rheanna Hommerding.
She said, “I hope you all work hard in the summer to make money to come visit me in Thailand – not China, not Taiwan!”
Valedictorian and salutatorian
Valedictorian Drew Holmen spoke fondly of the 60 students in his class (56 of them who walked in the ceremony). “I would trust any one of you if I ever needed help,” he said to them. “I consider you all like family.”
Cindy Nelson (Class of 1973) gave the encouraging keynote speech.
Holmen told his classmates he hoped they would try to experience what life has to offer whether they stay in Cook County or not. “Put yourself out on a limb and see what happens,” he said.
One of his final pieces of advice was, “Being right is never as important as being loved and respected.”
“I remember being nine years old and thinking this day would never come,” salutatorian Karyn Watson said in a speech following Holmen’s. Now she looks back and wishes she had understood how quickly the years would pass. “…Thisday came faster than I ever thought it would,” she said.
Watson encouraged her classmates to take chances, especially since they had already accomplished difficult things. “After all, we made it through high school, and that has got to be one of the craziest times of our lives.”
Watson thanked God for giving her the strength to do her best and the courage to try new things. “Congratulations, Class of 2010,” she said.
As Cook County High School celebrated its 100th commencement exercises, Principal Gwen Carman noted that there are a number of Cook County High School graduates now working as staff members at the school. (L-R, front) Dena Schliep (1976), Amy Lehto (2003), Stephanie Radloff (2005), Dee Brazell (1983). (L-R, back) Dan Viren (1984), Mitch Dorr (1993), Andra Lilienthal (1984), Dorie Carlson (1969), Sally Deschampe (1977), Kathleen Johnson (1965), Mary MacDonald (1967), Collette Pederson (1971). Not pictured: Cindy Carpenter-Straub (1979), Bill Lovaas (1984), Sue Hennessy (1984), Seth Falk (2006), Bill Tormondsen (1961), John Jacobsen (1970).
Guest speaker Cindy Nelson
Class President Carly Puch wanted the 100th anniversary graduation ceremony to be something special. She wanted someone special— with a connection to Cook County—to be the keynote speaker. A couple of months ago, she informed Principal Carman that she had made arrangements for Cindy Nelson, Class of 1973, to be that speaker.
Nelson missed a lot of school before she graduated. Her teachers went to extraordinary lengths to see that she made it. And she hasn’t darkened the halls of CCHS much since then. That was because she was busy making a mark for herself as “the world’s finest combined skier of the modern era,” Puch said as she introduced Nelson.
Nelson made it to four world championships and three Olympic games, winning three of those world championships and garnering a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics.
Nelson said she considered herself an unlikely keynote speaker for the CCHS 100th anniversary graduation ceremony. “I am probably the student who graduated with the least amount of inschool hours,” she said. Her teachers worked hard to put together an accredited curriculum that allowed her to race in Europe and complete her studies as well. She thanked the district for “thinking outside the box.”
“I took along with me a ‘silent weapon,’” she added: the support of her family, friends, school, and community.
Nelson asked several
” high school students what they might like to hear her talk about in a graduation speech. Theysaid they would want to know how she got from Cook County to the top of the world and what she learned along the way. Nelson talked about standing at the top of a racecourse far bigger and more treacherous than the ones she had grown up on at Lutsen Mountains, wondering how she was going to make it to the bottom. She thought about it for a minute and decided to take it one turn at a time. She won.
Through a lot of injuries, Nelson tapped into a “can-do” spirit that she is sure flows through the water up and down the Lake Superior shoreline. “I learned the importance of dedication, determination, and hard work,” she said. She learned to ask questions and learn from others. Her formula for success: Commitment, confidence, concentration.
“This is not the end,” she told the graduates. “…It’s actually the beginning of the next phase.
“Trust in your uniqueness. Believe in yourself. Follow your dreams. You can do anything you put your mind to,” Nelson said.
A declaration that brought the crowd to its feet.
So from here, the CCHS Class of 2010 is launched. Their career dreams range far and wide: they want to be dental hygienists, mathematicians, writers, lawyers, biochemists, engineers, artists, interior designers, musicians, massage therapists, psychologists, accountants, mechanics, lab technologists, machinists, nurses, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and heavy equipment operators. No doubt, their other dreams range far and wide as well. Perhaps Cook County should get a standing ovation for launching them so well.
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