Watch out world ? here comes Oxford High School’s Class of 2011!
Another 285 Wildcat alumni were unleashed Sunday following the commencement ceremony at Oakland University’s O’Rena.
Of those, 134 graduated with some form of academic honors.
Graduating at the top of the class were Valedictorian Xing Chen and salutatorians Konrad Thaler and Mark Schonfeld. For the story featuring them, see Page 9.
Graduate Thomas Jay Bearse won the coveted Oxford Cup. ‘I’m really surprised and I’m really flattered,? he said.
Since 1930, the silver cup’s been awarded annually at commencement to the graduating senior in the top 100 of his or her class who’s ‘shown the best all-around development.?
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.
Other finalists for the Oxford Cup included Alexander Cruz, Paige Felisky, Kayla Pollard and Konrad Thaler.
‘I’m really touched that everybody thought of me when they thought of this honor,? said Bearse, who is the son of Kirk and Michelle.
‘All his hard work and sacrifices have paid off,? Michelle said.
‘It feels good to know other people feel the same way you do about your kid,? Kirk said.
Bearse graduated Summa Cum Laude with a GPA of 3.972 and was in the top 25 of his class.
During his high school career, he earned two varsity letters in basketball and three letters in track.
Bearse will be attending the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in the fall to study mathematics. To pay for his education, Bearse was awarded two scholarships, totalling approximately $110,000.
The first is the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, a full tuition and housing scholarship worth an estimated $70,000.
Evans Scholars are golf caddies who were selected for their strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need and outstanding character.
Bearse caddied at the Warwick Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc for three years.
He also received a $40,000 scholarship from the Bell Charitable Trust.
Twenty-nine Oxford students graduated Summa Cum Laude (3.85-3.99 GPA), while another 29 graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.7-3.849 GPA).
A total of 41 students graduated Cum Laude (3.5-3.694 GPA), while an additional 32 graduated with honors for having a GPA between 3.3 and 3.49.