With diplomas in hand, 17 were graduated from Mackinaw City Public Schools Saturday, June 5. The Class of 2010 is: (front row, from left) Kathleen LaLonde, Timothy Vieau, Amber Wallis, Matthew Terrian, Kristina Heilman, Mollie Frye, Jessica Sefton, Annaliese McFarland, Cheyenne Bruder; (back row) Tate Paquet, Adam Alexander, Brock Jesweak, Collin Jaggi, Scott Smith, Peter Strojny, Nick Reeves, Michael Dery. “It has been 13 long, strenuous years, but our hard work has finally paid off,” said class vice president and graduating senior Michael Dery. His fellow seniors sat nearby during the Mackinaw City Public Schools graduation ceremony Saturday, June 5, patiently waiting for their diplomas marking their accomplishment.

The stands in the school gymnasium were packed with proud parents and friends, snapping photographs as several of the graduates made their final speeches to the crowd. While reaching a turning point in their lives, the outgoing seniors were lighthearted as they reminisced about their time at the school.

Superintendent Jeff Curth moves Matthew Terrian's tassel, graduating him from Mackinaw City Public School. Sixteen others were graduated during commencement at the school. “Mr. [Scott] Mills, I want to thank you for ruining my life. Because of you, there's nothing I can look at without thinking of physics,” salutatorian and class president Annaliese McFarland said to her teacher, to a roar of laugher from the crowd. She thanked the teachers for their hard work and joked about the times she spent with her fellow seniors.

Valedictorian and class treasurer Peter Strojny took center stage, explaining what he learned during his time at the school.

“School is more than facts, figures, grammar, and history. It is about learning about being an effective member of society. There's one life lesson I've learned here at Mackinaw City that surpasses all other information, and that is to not live life in regret,” Mr. Stronjny said.

Casian Holsinger hugs Kathleen LaLonde after the Mackinaw City Public Schools graduation. The majority of the Class of 2010 plans to seek higher education. He related a passage from the novel and film “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,” about what to do in a hopeless situation -- one should look back and be appreciative of how good life has been in the past. He expanded on why the passage is important, advising his classmates that happiness is a choice to make now.

“Be happy from where you are now. If you aren't happy with where you are now, one minute of trying to make your future better will do so much more than a year of wishing that you had done something different in the past,” he said.

As the ceremony continued, speaker John Thompson offered his advice to the seniors. Mr. Thompson was the valedictorian from the Class of 1994.

“We all need to be reminded to keep fighting the good fight, especially in these times where all the news seems bad,” he said.

Kathleen LaLonde, president of student council, offered a few words to close the ceremony.

“As I look out tonight at the many family and friends that have been around to witness us all growing up, I must remind you, don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened,” she said.

Of the graduating class of 17, 15 plan to attend college, one will join the military, and another is still deciding about future plans.

Graduates are Kathleen LaLonde, Timothy Vieau, Amber Wallis, Matthew Terrian, Kristina Heilman, Mollie Frye, Jessica Sefton, Annaliese McFarland, Cheyenne Bruder, Tate Paquet, Adam Alexander, Brock Jesweak, Collin Jaggi, Scott Smith, Peter Strojny, Nick Reeves, and Michael Dery.

Scholarships Awarded

to Mackinaw City Graduates

Salutatorian Scholarship of $300: Annaliese McFarland

Valedictorian Scholarship of $400: Peter Strojny

Jeffery P. Bodzik Memorial Scholarship of $3,000: Annaliese McFarland

Straits Area Community Foundation Scholarship of $300: Jessica Sefton

Alberta Schappacher Memorial Scholarship of $500: Annaliese McFarland

Mackinaw City Band Boosters Scholarship of $100: Adam Alexander, Michael Dery, Kathleen LaLonde, Annaliese McFarland, Tate Paquet, Jessica Sefton

Woman's Club Scholarship of $500: Michael Dery

Tyler Downing Memorial Scholarship of $500: Kathleen LaLonde, Matthew Terrian

American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship of $300: Michael Dery, Collin Jaggi

American Legion Scholarship of $1,000: Kristina Heilman, Kathleen LaLonde

PTO Scholarship of $500: Annaliese McFarland

Audie's Open Scholarship of $400: Adam Alexander, Michael Dery, Kristina Heilman, Collin Jaggi, Kathleen LaLonde, Annaliese McFarland, Tate Paquet, Jessica Sefton, Timothy Vieau, Amber Wallis

Church of the Straits Scholarship of $1,200: Adam Alexander, Michael Dery, Annaliese McFarland, Amber Wallis

Elementary Education Scholarship of $300: Michael Dery, Annaliese McFarland

Sons of the American Legion Scholarship of $1,000: Michael Dery

Straits Area Resort Ministry Scholarship of $200: Adam Alexander, Michael Dery, Kristina Heilman, Annaliese McFarland, Amber Wallis

Mackinaw City Lion's Club Scholarship of $600: Michael Dery

Mackinaw City Lion's Club Scholarship of $400: Adam Alexander, Kristina Heilman, Collin Jaggi, Kathleen LaLonde, Annaliese McFarland, Tate Paquet, Amber Wallis, Jessica Sefton

Secondary Scholarship of $300: Jessica Sefton

Colene Childs Memorial Scholarship of $2,500: Kristina Heilman

Mackinaw City Ironworkers Scholarship $500: Michael Dery

Miriam Paquet Rice Scholarhsip of $300: Tate Paquet

Mackinaw City Student Council Scholarship of $100: Kristina Heilman, Kathleen LaLonde, Jessica Sefton

Pellston Masonic Lodge Scholarship of $1,000: Kristina Heilman

Darrow's Family Restaurant Scholarship of $300: Amber Wallis

Martin and Patricia Jahn Nursing Scholarship of $5,000: Kathleen LaLonde