www.jconline.com Jour nal Courier 3A The graduates of Oakland High School have overcome a div erse array of obstacles. efore they came to Oakland, they had problems at home, struggled academically or simply hated the anonymous allways of larger high chools. A principal Clare Lutgen told them, they were rebels round pegs that had been ammed into square holes. But at Oakland, hey found a place to thrive, surrounded by teachers and staff who helped them succeed ersonally and academic ally. With only 13 graduating seniors, the Oakland ommencement was deeply personal.
Students processed into the eremony arm in arm with teachers, and in her remarks, Lutgen spoke why each student had come to Oakland and ow they had changed in heir time there. Graduates: 13 here the ceremonies were held: Sunnyside Intermediate School auditorium Aword from a graduate: Oakland, I never felt like I was somebody. I never felt ike I was capable of anything other than fail- said Lauren Feldt, ho was named Mighty Oak, an honor awarded to a student who displays personal growth and embodies values tolerance, justice, in- enuity, integrity and service. never knew how much I enjoy history, how well I can write a story or how easy it is to earn about the human ody. All these things I earned from the teachers at Oakland because they cared, because they looked past all the bad rades and behavior I had in my past and ooked into my Aword from the principal: is not part of the magic ingdom, but magical hings happen there everyday.
This is not because of pixie dust or agic wands. Oakland merely provided you a space for utgen said. of you chose to reach out and grab the golden ring a you were passing through. That is why you a re here tonight. Set our sights on that next gold ring tonight.
Do not elay. You have demonstrated that dreams can become a reality. Say the words, make a pinky swear. Make a commitment to a life of security and aledictorian: Madison Carlson Oakland grads celebrate their obstacle-laden success story By Dylan Peers McCoy DYLAN PEERS COURIER Valedictorian Madison Carlson gave a speech at the akland High School graduation. Central graduation Friday night eemed like a throwback to yesteryear when students bat beach balls around during commencement exercises to taunt their teachers and the crowd politely remained quiet during the nearly wo-hour ceremony.
A the students crossed he stage to receive their diploma, no boisterous out- reaks drowned out the reading of the next stud name, yet at the end of the conferring of all the iplomas, the crowd and students erupted in a loud a nd prolonged cheer and applause. The graduates also waited until they were outside the gymnasium for a second, louder cheer and celebration of their accom- lishments. Of course, this is a parochial school, and classes as well as commencement done different here. ut parochial school or ot, it stop some of the student speakers Friday from good-natured teasing of school administrators and clergy about he dress code or chool mass. raduates: 56 Where ceremonies were held: Central Catholic High School gymnasi- Aword from a gradu- a te: school has not been the four perfect-picture years of a a cheesy novel or a television pro- ram in which nothing oes valedictorian Carissa A.
Hutchison said. have had our rough atches, but those times have formed us and made us stronger as individuals a nd as a class. Tonight we sit here survivors of the roller coaster that we oarded freshman Aword from a class oderator: I stand ere and look out on all of you all tonight, I see so any things. I see aspirations. I see fears.
I see excitement and energy. I see endless Sister Maria Gemma Salyer said. am looking at the future right now, and so excited to see what God has lanned for your lives. To quote Michelangelo one ast time, he says, reater danger for most of us lies not in setting our a im too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving the Aword from a board ember: have to und erstand that we must erve others said J. ric Davis, executive director of Lafayette Catho- ic School System.
must give to the community more than we expect in return. You see these are the two biggest reasons hat Central Catholic comm unity is so special, so do a favor, wherever you ind yourself next year, find or create a community hat meets those two requirements, and participate with all your Valedictorian: Carissa A. Hutchison alutatorian: Kristin A Chelius Central Catholic graduates 56 during commencement By Ron Wilkins ERIC THE JOURNAL COURIER Afolded baseball uniform and a bouquet of spring flowers filled one Central Catholic 2015 commencement seat in memory of classmate Jimmy DeBoy, who died in 2006..
