Tossing their caps into the air, 112 members of the Oconto Falls Class of 2015 left the field house to thunderous applause Sunday afternoon at Oconto Falls High School.
“The last thing we will all share together is our memories, and that doesn’t sound that bad to me,” said student speaker Kimberly Schliep, in her address to the class.
Sunday’s ceremony included musical performances by the high school band and chorus, the presentation of scholastic honors culminating with the recognition of Holly Umentum, who achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, the awarding of diplomas, and speeches by school officials and two class representatives.
In her reflection, Schliep pulled in themes from TV shows and movies. She said members of the Class of 2015 learned they could get the job done, a reference to “Bob the Builder.” In borrowing from “Toy Story,” she encouraged her fellow graduates to reach “to infinity and beyond,” as they set out on their journey through life.
She also talked about the journey that led to graduation.
“Realistically, it’s the combination of hard work, focus and dumb luck that has gotten us this far,” she said.
Student speaker Matthew VerVelde said the words of his freshman homeroom teacher stayed with him in high school: “If you play the game right, you will all be there on graduation day.”
He commended the Class of 2015 for playing the game of high school successfully.
“Each year we became better players and learned from the year before,” he said.
Then he pulled out The Game of LIFE to show the audience, saying, “As we cross the stage today, one game ends and another one starts. We now have a new game to play, the game of life.”
Principal Bruce Russell inspired the graduates by referring to painter Pablo Picasso, who was considered a radical in his time because he followed no boundaries. He quoted Picasso, saying, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
He challenged the graduates to write the story of their future, speak their minds and use their gifts.
