OHS Honors 154 Students

The OHS Class of 2015 graduated 154 students on Sunday. (photo by Charlie Comfort)

Area residents came to honor 154 youth Sunday, as Oskaloosa High School seniors looked to end one chapter of their lives and begin another.

Oskaloosa Community School District Superintendent Russ Reiter spoke at Sunday’s commencement. “We congratulate you on all of your successes and achievements.” Reiter continued, “What is success? Success is… hard work, planning, dedication and preparing yourself for the future.” He then added, “Do not plan on luck.”

To illustrate luck, Reiter said “If one of you happens to find an envelope under your chair with cash in it that might be luck… that’s lucky.” As a part of his illustration, Reiter had taped an envelope with cash in it under one of the graduates chairs, which was found after some prompting by Reiter. “Fortunately or unfortunately, life will not be that easy,” he said.

In giving his final remarks to the soon-to-be graduates, Reiter offered some advice. “Be kind to everyone that you meet. Live life to your fullest. Make your family proud,” he said.

After Reiter spoke, Skylar Dejong, Senior Class President, announced that the Senior Class Gift would be a donation of class funds to the Oskaloosa High School Student Council.

Before the presentation of diplomas, two seniors offered commencement addresses to the students.

Senior Lauren Gorski used an illustration of a graduation mortarboard to send her classmates off into the future. Senior Cody Tuttle also spoke and offered a challenge to his peers. He said, “We may not have the power to inspire the entire world with success, but we do have the power to achieve for ourselves. My challenge to each of you and myself is to do all that you can to reach your full potential.”

School Board President Carl Drost then made the presentation of diplomas to the graduates.