Steven Sudol keeps one hand free for a congratulatory handshake with superintendent Amy Scott, while the other holds his diploma. Several themes ran concurrently at the Cedarville High School graduation ceremony, held Sunday, May 23, at the John Duncan Gymnasium. Student speakers expressed appreciation for teachers, family, and classmates and an attitude that great accomplishments can be made by students with small town upbringings, while guest speakers stressed adaptability, compassion, and tolerance in the world at large.

This year's graduating class was less than half the size of last year's, with 17 students receiving their diplomas, compared to last year's 36. Superintendent Amy Scott, who introduced each graduate to the crowd, emphasized the compassion and technical prowess that mark this year's class.

Of the students graduated Sunday, 13 will be attending college in the fall, two will join the armed forces, one will assume the full-time responsibility of raising a family, and one will travel abroad to an internship hospital in Germany. Intended courses of study range from nursing to graphic design to video game design to business management.

Most of the Cedarville High School graduating Class of 2010 has been together since third grade. Graduates are (back row, from left) Rex Rohrer, Steven Sudol, and Tyler Smith; (third) Andrew Jaroche, Trent Pitko, Nicholas Kostecki, Nathaniel Kostecki, and Zachary Mc- Farlane; (second) Casey Sherlund, Jillian Collins, and Lisa Roth; (front) Brittany Lee, Stephanie Leach, Audrey Koster, and Tiffany Landreville. Missing from photograph are Rebecca Dowdell and Cody Grove. (Photograph courtesy of Les Cheneaux Community Schools) The valedictorian and salutatorian addresses were delivered jointly by twins Nicholas and Nathaniel Kosteki, who tapped into their passion for the “Star Wars” films to drive home their key points. Before taking the crowd to a galaxy far, far away, the speakers discussed the support system that kept them and their peers grounded.

At right: Classmates Andrew Jaroche, Nathaniel Kostecki, and Nicholas Kostecki. All three graduates delivered speeches at the Sunday, May 23, ceremony. “Today, our speech isn't to reward our personal academic achievements,” Nathan said. “Today is a time to recognize the efforts of our entire class, those of teachers and parents, to remember and cherish the experience as we enter a larger world.”

Using the bond between characters in the films to illustrate the connection they feel to their classmates, the speakers reinforced the idea that the entire 2010 class has shared in one big adventure.

“We feel privileged to have grown up with this wonderful class, having been with many of them since kindergarten, almost everyone since third grade, and even a few in preschool. It's going to be strange going in separate directions this fall,” Nicholas said. “Without school we would not have been able to create each of our friendships. Our friends are the people with whom we've shared the best and worst memories, and without those friends, life would not have been the same.”

Rebecca Dowdell is congratulated by guest speaker and former teacher Mike Lofdahl, who advised the graduates to embrace the Sunday ceremony as one of life's many transitions. They are the sons of Heath and Sharri Kostecki.

Also speaking, as a student leader, was Andrew Jaroche, who thanked teachers for the kindness they have shown to each graduate. Additionally, he said some of the students' skills would have been impossible to develop without a teacher's guidance.

Graduate Cody Grove (File photograph) Mr. Jaroche is the son of Luke and Lynelle Jaroche.

The guest speaker, Mike Lofdahl, has deep roots with the Les Cheneaux school system. Attending Les Cheneaux Community Schools as a student from start to finish and teaching in the system for 35 years as a language arts teacher places him in 48 Trojans yearbooks. He also taught the graduating class in their earlier years.

Mr. Lofdahl spoke to the value behind a graduation ceremony, countering an opinion that he felt missed the point - questioning whether these functions are necessary.

“This is one of those really important transitions in life,” he said. “One thing is ending while another is beginning. How you handle transitions will define you.”

Mr. Lofdahl urged students to be mentally and emotionally flexible, since the real world can present good days and bad.

“If a plan doesn't work, don't be afraid to start over,” he said.

Another important lesson stressed by Mr. Lofdahl was to be tolerant, since students are sure to encounter people who look and think differently. He said having an open mind can teach the graduating class a great deal about life.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Dave Murray, vice president of the Les Cheneaux Community Schools Board of Education, spoke of how the ceremony's end is just another beginning.

“The journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step,” Mr. Murray said. “Your 13 years of education may have felt like 1,000 miles, but it was only the first step. What you end here today, you begin out there tomorrow.”

Graduates include Jillian Collins, Rebecca Kay Dowdell, Cody Rae Grove, Andrew Luke Jaroche, Nathaniel Evan and Nicholas Austin Kostecki, Audrey Elizabeth Koster, Tiffany Rae Landerville, Stephanie Nicole Leach, Brittany Nicole Lee, Zachary Lee McFarlane, Trent Wayne Pitko, Rex Robert Rohrer, Lisa Marie Roth, Casey Lynn Sherlund, Tyler Dylan Smith, and Steven Charles Sudol.