32 Pickford High Students Graduated in Class of '07
By Amy Polk

Pickford senior Kristen Schmitigal awaits the musical cue before leading classmates (clockwise, from left) Sarah Bew, Sarah Mastaw, and Brianna Nasser into the Pickford Gymnasium Saturday, May 26.

Life is full of mixed signals, which only get more complex as one leaves high school and heads out into the world, said Pickford Public Schools Superintendent Keith Krahnke.

Addressing the 32 graduating Pickford seniors Saturday, May 26, Mr. Krahnke advised the students to see opportunity in life's lack of clear signals, and "be encouraged that you have choices," but don't expect answers will come with time.

"Logic may tell you that as one continues through life, knowledge and experience would begin to make life's answers all the clearer. Actually, in many ways, it is just the opposite," Mr. Krahnke said. "A lot of the things we believe to be answers are really just traffic signs highlighting all sorts of new directions."

He talked of how mixed signals start with parents, then continue through their child's own adult life, marriage, and children.

Pickford teacher Patricia "Tish" Walker pins the class flower, a rose, on the robe of student Keenan Wojnaroski before commencement ceremonies.

"We tell our children to tell the truth. Honesty is the best policy. It is wrong to lie," he said, describing how later, most parents advise children there is such a thing as too much honesty, and to hold back to spare someone's feelings.

He went on to list a number of contradictory rules of thumb and words to live by, such as "look before you leap," but "he who hesitates is lost." "There are no stupid questions," but "curiosity killed the cat." "To be successful you need an education," but "it's not what you know, but who you know."

Mixed signals indeed, Mr. Krahnke said, but "you just need to know that if you are searching for that one, clear, unmistakable signal about what you should do with your life, you may just spend the rest of your days looking for it."

All of the signals make it difficult to choose the right direction, but ultimately, he advised, "decide, put the pedal down, and don't look back."

Pickford High School's Class of 2007 assembles on the gymnasium stage after receiving diplomas Saturday, May 26.

"My only real advice," he said, "is to take responsibility for whatever choices you make. I wish you all the best in whatever direction you take."

Salutatorian Kristen Schmitigal said, "I'm not like most people, and cannot stay rooted in one place," before grabbing the microphone from the podium and delivering her address while walking back and forth across the stage.

She compared her classmates to rock stars, and the years of school before this day as spending time in the recording studio, developing their own albums for their release into the world.

"Here we are, Class of 2007, at our release party, about to receive our completed albums - rock stars in our own right," she said. "We are about to embark on our world tour, in which we will go and promote ourselves, saying 'These are our experiences and this is what I have to offer.'"

She wished her classmates luck on their own "world tours," congratulated them on what they have accomplished, and challenged them to "last, but definitely not least, rock on!"

Pickford seniors (from left) Brittany Kucharczyk, Lindsay Bawks, Valerie Traynor, Katie Spence, and Renae Reich line up before they march into the Pickford gymnasium and receive their diplomas.

Co-salutatorian Kaylynn Portice said delivering a commencement address was a dream come true for her, because both her parents made speeches at their commencement ceremonies.

After years of working to make the grades to qualify as a salutatorian, and studying other graduation speeches, she decided that rather than talk about yesterday or tomorrow, she wanted to talk about "today," and she crafted her speech around the letters of the word and what they mean for today's graduates: T is for time; O is for the obstacles the class has overcome; D is for class determination; A is for the graduates' many accomplishments, and Y is for yelling, she said.

To elaborate on the word "yelling," she said, "Our class has always been an outspoken class."

"If we believed in something, you were going to know about it and we were going to make you believe our point. Although this may not seem like a gift, it really is: To have the confidence and determination to stand up for what you believe in is a very important talent."

"Today is for the time we've spent together and the time that we'll spend apart," she said. "As we get ready to embark on a new journey, I would like you to remember today. Enjoy every aspect of today and embrace your dreams."

Valedictorian Jordan Ernst compared life to a book, and said his classmates are at the end of the first chapter of their lives.

"This day marks the end of childhood. When we exit this gymnasium with our diplomas, the world will treat us like adults and expect us to act like adults," he said, continuing to describe the significance of high school graduation.

"A novel doesn't end with the first chapter," he said. "It contains the beginning of the story, the foundation upon which the author weaves his tale. The opening pages are simply the introduction, where characters are introduced, the plot is set in motion. The plot of our lives has begun to unfold."

The most important part of their stories will be what happens after the first chapter, he said.

"The ensuing story is what makes a great book," he said. "Our stories are far from finished."

Pickford High School Principal Neil Harrison awarded scholarships and awards to the students before they received their diplomas, and imparted advice from one of his favorite quotes by Yogi Berra, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Kaylynn Portice received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award.

Miss Portice, along with Kristen Schmitigal and Scott Coullard, also received a Michigan High School Athletic Association Award for earning a score of 24 or better on the American College Test (ACT) and maintaining a 3.5 or better grade point average while excelling in athletics.

Scott Coullard was also recognized for receiving a 2007 Detroit Free Press Scholar-Athlete Award.

Mr. Coullard shared the 2007 All-Around Student Award with Renae Reich. It is one of the most prestigious awards given by the school, Pickford High Principal Neil Harrison said, and it is given to two graduates who exhibit exceptional scholarship, leadership, and physical and social development.

Alicia Bjunes and Jordan Ernst received the 2007 Good Citizen Award for showing dependability, service, and patriotism as students. Kaylynn Portice and George Hart received the 2007 Leadership Award for demonstrating positive leadership among their fellow students.

Nineteen students received 61 scholarships this year, and Mr. Harrison said he is amazed each year by how many scholarships have become available through the generosity of the community.

Graduates of the Pickford Class of 2007 are Lindsay Ruth Bawks*, Sarah Ann Bew, Alicia Marie Bjunes*, Emelia Caroline Cottle, Scott Michael Coullard*, Jordan Conrad Ernst*, Veronica Ann Gough*, George William Hart, LaTara Lynn Hart, Raymond Charles Hill, Brittany Marie Kucharczyk*, Jessica Lynn Ledy, Matthew Thayer Lee, Sarah Alyce Mastaw, Victor Francis Merchand, Nathan James Miller, Caitlin Elizabeth Mortinsen*, Brianna Christine Nasser, Chelsey Marie O'Connor, Clayton Ernest Peffers, Kaylynn Marie Portice*, Nicholas Wayne Raden*, Renae Marie Reich*, Kristen Colin Schmitigal*, Marie Eva Snider*, Leonie Sparling*, Katie Elizabeth Spence, Matthew Paul Stewart, Janet Ann Thompson*, Valerie May Traynor, Katelyn Patricia Walker*, and Keenan John Wojnaroski.

*Denotes National Honor Society students.