‘Mom, you can start crying now.?
It’s a pretty safe bet that senior class president Brad Grunewald’s mother wasn’t the only parent with tears in their eyes as Oxford High School graduated 239 seniors Sunday afternoon.
Family and friends filled the high school football stadium’s bleachers to capacity to watch Oxford’s best and brightest receive their diplomas, move their blue-and-gold tassels to the left side and toss their mortarboards into the air.
Addressing the crowd, Grunewald said he searched many songs and quotes for something to describe the Class of 2006, but ‘there was nothing that fit us.?
‘We did things our own way,? he said.
A total of 89 seniors graduated with honors, ending their successful high school years with grade point averages ranging from 3.2 to 4.0.
The top 10 graduates were Genevieve Nelson, Carrie Schalm, Kathryn Schmidt, Phillip Popp, Donald Bowen, Nicholas Murray, Peter Banachowski, Kenneth Mueller, Krista Macauley and Todd Butler.
Each gave a short speech recalling fond memories of their days at OHS and dispensing words of wisdom for the future.
‘High school has expanded our knowledge on a myriad of different subjects in the classroom,? said Carrie Schalm. ‘However, the biggest lesson of all was not learned with books, chalkboards or those pop tests that we love . . . We learned this lesson through many successes and many failures, through thorough searching and joyful discoveries. We have learned that to be truly happy we must first find ourselves, determine who we are and always stick to our beliefs. And if we do that, there’s no doubt in my mind that every person sitting in front of me will be completely successful in whatever they wish to do.?
Take the time to get to know the people around you was Kathryn Schmidt’s message.
‘Maybe you didn’t get a chance to know everyone in our class, but you still have tonight at the (Senior All Night) party and you still have the rest of the summer,? she said. ‘I think you should say ‘hi? to someone you don’t know or go home and read the quotes in the yearbook ?
‘We all have something to learn from each other,? she said. ‘You might learn something from someone that you never expected.?
Kenneth Mueller urged his classmates to focus on their futures and making the right decisions.
‘I believe the only ones who remember high school as ‘the glory days? did not accomplish what they really wanted in life,? he said. ‘Every choice that you make from here on out will mold what you are in the future. If wrong choices are made, then the only thing you have to look back on was how much fun you had in high school.?
Todd Butler reminded his classmates not to take their mothers and fathers for granted, remember all they’ve done and will do for you.
‘Don’t ever forget your parents for they treasure you,? he said. ‘Even when times get rough they will always be there to support you, forever.?
It was fitting that Butler dedicated his speech to his parents, Gary and Jaclene Butler.
‘I love you two very much,? he said.
As if being among the top 10 graduates wasn’t honor enough, Nicholas Murray was awarded the prestigious Oxford Cup. ‘For the past 76 years, the Oxford Cup has been awarded annually at commencement to the senior in the top (half) of the graduating class in scholarship who has shown the best all around development,? said Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro.
Selected by a vote of the junior and senior classes along with the OHS faculty, the winner must exhibit ‘proficiency in scholarship, friendly social qualities, well-balanced physical development and superior school citizenship,? she said.
Finalists for the cup included Peter Banachowski, Brad Grunewald, Genevieve Nelson and Tim Shafto.