34 Earn Diplomas at Cedarville High Commencement
By Amy Polk

Cedarville High School's Class of 2007 lines up for one final class photograph before commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 27.

An unusually emotional Cedarville High School graduation ceremony was underscored by the words of co-valedictorian Rebecca Bickham, who said, "We ask you to join us as we cry for the past we are leaving behind, laugh for the present that we are enjoying today, and hope for the future that we have to look forward to."

Speaking to her classmates, school community, and the audience at the Sunday, May 27 ceremony, she compared the graduates to a batch of cookies in a tearful, but at times humorous, address about the ingredients that have shaped the graduates' lives until now.

Parents are the two sticks of butter in the recipe that are "our beginning and the base that holds everything together," she said. Next comes the sugar, the white symbolizing the fun times, and the brown symbolizing the happy memories that "are a little less pure, but we just don't tell our parents about them." Vanilla, she said, signifies memories that are not pleasant. Like vanilla, these memories taste bitter on their own, but are a necessary ingredient to giving the recipe a better flavor. Like eggs and baking soda, she described mentors, role models, heroes, and other people who make subtle, yet significant contributions. Friends are the chocolate chips, and education is the flour in the recipe. Once the recipe has been mixed up, the cookies must still bake and cool on the pans, which she compared to the teachers and school.

Cedarville High School's newly graduated students toss their caps at the end of commencement .

"So today, we sit here in our neat rows on the cooling rack between the oven of Cedarville High School and the mouths of the world," she said.

Co-valedictorian Amy Winberg recalled the words of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Swedish statesman Dag Hammarskjold, when she said, "For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes."

He worked as a peacemaker during the Suez crisis of 1956 and the crisis in Lebanon and Jordan in 1958, Miss Winberg said, and in the same speech in which he made that statement, "he challenged us to think about how our lives would be summarized in just a few sentences, and how they might sound in the future." She connected his statement to a William Shakespeare quote that "We know what we are, but not what we may be."

Cedarville seniors (from left) Carly Yaste and Jamie Hurban prepare to march to commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 27.

"Everything we've been through so far, the lessons we've learned, the relationships we've formed, the memories we've made, have all helped to make us the people we are today," she said. "What we don't know is what people will throw at us next, and how that will continue to shape us into the people we will become. We just have to be open to all that will be."

Salutatorian Kristen Duman described her transition from a larger city to the small community of Clark Township, when her family moved here and she was in the eighth grade.

"When I first heard I was moving to Cedarville, I thought my life was over," she said, "But in the reality, it was only the beginning."

Julye McGreevy (from left) congratulates Kevin Leach and Aaron Sherlund outside the gymnasium in Cedarville before the boys participate in commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 27.

One of her first experiences in moving from a Class A to a Class D school was when she was welcomed by almost her entire class at a "Meet the Trojans" barbecue at the beginning of the school year. She went on to receive a well-rounded education, she said, that has prepared her for the future and allowed her to participate in athletics, music, drama, various organizations, "and other activities I would normally not have been able to participate in at a larger school."

An education is what you make of it, and "the one life lesson I learned that sticks out most to me is, if opportunity doesn't knock, build a door," she said.

Calling on the timeless words of Dr. Seuss's "Oh, the Places You'll Go," she told her classmates, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go."

Cedarville High School Class of 2007 graduates (from left) Justin Baker, Jimmy Eberts, Matt Hansen, Keith Foster, and Jordan Sweeney model their newly arrived Class D State Champion rings they earned this spring on the varsity basketball team.

In another emotional address, Superintendent Rod Goehmann connected the words of the David Downes song "One World" to the Declaration of Independence and Les Cheneaux Community Schools' mission statement.

"We're all a part of one world. We all can share the same dream. And if you just reach out to me. Then you will find deep down inside. I'm just like you," are the lyrics he read, tying them to the Declaration's statement that "all men are created equal," and are endowed with the rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Those who support these ideals pledged themselves to protecting those rights for themselves and others, just like Les Cheneaux Community Schools has pledged itself through its mission statement to provide a safe and orderly environment, improved communication between the people providing students with a home and education, and ultimately the goal of producing self-sufficient individuals, he said.

"I think if I compare the three statements, they all pretty much say the same thing," he said. "We all want the best for our kids, and we have a small, rural community that's providing a quality education for our students. There is a quiet, yet tenacious quality of small, rural schools."

He thanked everyone for their roles in what he called a highly successful school year.

High School Principal Randy Schaedig gave the audience a description of the graduating senior class, noting that out of 34 graduates, 23 started kindergarten 13 years ago in Cedarville. Half the class qualified for the Michigan Promise grant before entering their freshman college year. The $4,000 grant is pledged to students who successfully complete all sections of the Michigan Education Assessment Program test. Those who did not qualify now for the grant may be eligible for it after completing two years of post-secondary education, Mr. Schaedig said.

Seventy five percent of the class is registered to pursue a post secondary education at places like University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University, cosmetology school, and Aquinas, Hope, Baker, and Alpena colleges. One student will play football at St. Norbert College in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and another will play volleyball for Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. Seven of the students qualified for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Principal's Award, and 19 wore honor cords to signify a 3.0 or better grade point average.

The class set two academic records, Mr. Schaedig said, with three students scoring higher than 30 on their American College Tests, and 11 qualifying for Michigan Competitive Scholarships.

There are two State of Michigan Homecoming Queen semi-finalists among the class, he said, and one Eagle Scout. Several are members of the award-winning Cedarville High School Band.

The class also represents the leadership on the Cedarville boy's varsity basketball team which became Class D State runners-up last year, and Class D State Champions this year for the first time in school history, he said. Other athletic achievements include three Upper Peninsula cross country championships, and several individuals who have received All Conference, All U.P., and All State recognition.

The students have also served roles on the Hessel Tribal Youth Council, Community Band, and on a youth mission trip to Puerto Rico.

"Many have balanced not only the demands of the school year and extracurricular activities, but also made time to work jobs throughout the school year," he said.

"Every class that graduates leaves its mark on the school, and this class has left a big one, and a will leave a large hole to fill," he added.

Mr. Schaedig also recognized four students who are planning to serve in the military. Joe Currie and Aaron Sherlund will serve in the United States Army National Guard. Jim Eberts has enlisted in the United States Air Force and Austin Walker is enlisting in the Air Force.

Cedarville High School graduates are: Justin Patrick Baker~, Nicholas Ross Benko, Rebecca Sue Bickham *~, Charlene Nicole Brissette, Robert John Coady, Courtney Caro Cruickshank*~, Joseph Leo Currie, Thomas James Dowdell II, Ashley Christine Dresbach, Kristen Marie Duman*~, Dale Robert Dunn*~, James Patrick Eberts~, Kathleen Annabell Eberts*~, Emily Anne Feldhake*~, Keith Michaels Foster, Rebecca Rae Gregg*~, Kara Marie Griffin*~, Leigh Ann Dakota Hamel*~, Mathew Christopher Hansen, Olivia Jo Huffman, Jamie Lynn Hurban*~, Kevin Thomas Leach, Lindsay Doris McLeod*~, Rhianna Lee Milligan~, Justin Wayne Moss, Elizabeth Ann Patrick, Michael William Pollard, Angela Michelle Rickley~, Aaron Robert Sherlund~, Jordan Michael Sweeney, Peter Albert Treleaven~, Austin Lee Walker, Amy Katherine Winberg*~, Carley Rae Yaste~.

~ Denotes honor cord recipients; *denotes National Honor Society member