“Today Decides Tomorrow” Sends Off OHS Class Of 2017
The Oskaloosa High School Class of 2017.
Oskaloosa, Iowa- The next chapter began for Oskaloosa High School students Sunday afternoon. The class of 2017 assembled together for one of the last times ever to receive their diplomas and be recognized for their accomplishments over the last four years.
Superintendent Russ Reiter reviewed the accomplishments of the senior class over the last year, and gave the students words of wisdom, all the while empowering the students to strive for the best in what comes next for them.
“The life lessons you have learned over the last four years, I hope will take you further,” said Reiter to the class. “Those lessons of integrity, character, honor, hard work. You are a talented bunch of kids, but somewhere in the midst of all that talent and all of those skills that you have, there’s hard work. In order to be successful, in order to step out of these doors today and continue on, now the work begins.
“Every single day will be a learning experience; that is the one thing we cannot forget. Your education by far is not done,” added Reiter. “As we walk out those doors, as you get that diploma this afternoon, take it, smile, and chapter one’s over with, and the rest of that book, you need to write on your own.”
Connor Swim, 2017 Class President, presented the senior class gift to the OHS Science Department to purchase new learning tools to further the education of future students.
“Thank you to the teachers, staff, administration, and parents for helping all of us succeed and graduate. Finally, thank you to the Class of 2017 for making [my] and everyone’s time here at OHS special.”
Alyssa Newendorp and John Hammes both spoke to their peers. Newendorp individuals recognized students who were members of school activities this past year, such as the championship softball team, wrestling, senior musicians, thespians, and the remainder of the class, saying, “You all have your own accomplishments to be proud of.”
Hammes, with advice from the OHS principal, said that graduation is not just for the students; it’s for the parents as well.
Hammes thanked everyone for helping him and his classmates along the way, especially parents, grandparents, and friends, “for driving us to activities, cheering for us, and encouraging us in academics and extracurriculars. Thank you for those dress shirts that magically appear, cleaned and pressed, on concert days.”
Remembering the humorous advice that Bandy had given him, Hammes said, “Thank you to all the grandparents for reminding our parents that they were the same when they were our age.”
Hammes spoke about how they were the last class to attend the neighborhood elementary schools, stating, “We came together in 2005.”
Two chairs sat silently throughout the ceremony. The Class of 2017 lost two of it’s own over the years in school. “The empty chairs at each end of the first row are in honor of our classmates Morgan Malloy and Tyler Zickefoose.”
After brief remarks from Principal Stacey Bandy, students received their diplomas and flipped their tassels to signify their graduation. Around 150 students graduated Sunday afternoon, many with honors.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Class of 2017,” said Bandy as he sent the recent grads off to finish writing the stories of their lives.
Additional writing by Charlie Comfort
