On Friday, June 5, 154 young adults and soon to be graduates entered the packed gymnasium at Hamburg Area High School in rows of two dressed in red and white. The class of 2015 was ready to graduate and celebrate the past 12 years of being shaped into young men and women ready to take on the world.
“What will occur here shortly is an eclectic achievement that transcends what any of us could accomplish on our own,” said Cody Knight, Salutatorian. “As we prepare to finalize our educational journey by receiving our diploma, a passport to the future, we should always carry with us the years spent at Hamburg that are forever part of our identity.”
Class of 2015 valedictorian Julian Warner, spoke about how a children’s story mirrors the journey to graduation.
“High school, to me, is just like a story I know called ‘The Puppy Who Lost His Way,'” said Warner during his speech. “We are taken in by the high school as vibrant, innocent puppies if you will.”
Just like the puppy, the students are embraced by their teachers, faculty and peers and given tools that they need to succeed and advance their education. There are moments when students get lost and struggle, but they find their way home and continue their journey.
“I encourage everyone, in the words of one Lord Alfred Tennyson, to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield,” Warner ended his speech.
Knight focused on the journey as well and credits the area, community and those who helped along the way with helping shape the teenagers into young adults ready to look ahead. He explained that the class of 2015’s time at Hamburg taught them that it is okay to ask for help and rely on others during their journey and how every student has their own unique story to tell.
“Over 12 years ago, 2015 just seemed like an indefinite point in the future that seemed unattainable,” Knight said and added that the students slowly became enlightened and have the ability to achieve greatness and should look back on this time with fondness.
He continued, “And thus we begin our quest into the real world. Even though we have all gained experience within the confines of Hamburg, we are novices in the face of these new challenges. Don’t be discouraged by this. Instead, let this opportunity motivate us toward even greater success.”
Prior to the presentation of awards and diplomas, Hamburg Area School District Superintendent Steven Keifer gave his final commencement remarks. As with tradition, he began with quotes from famous commencement speakers and looked back on the previous school year noting special events and achievements by the class of 2015.
“The class before us has already created an identity for themselves because of their character and their many achievements. Over the past four years, it became obvious the class of 2015 was outstanding in many ways,” said Keifer. “They are obviously an outstanding class. They have made their mark already at Hamburg Area High School. Class, we expect event greater accomplishments in the future from the individuals graduating here.”
Keifer ended with a request to the class of 2015, “Go out and make our world a better place.”
