For the last time, the blue and white robes accented with gold processed down the field house isle. For the last time, family and friends gathered in the crowded gymnasium. For the last time, seniors drove down Wildcat Drive to their futures.
For the last time, Oxford Area Community Schools graduated a class in the current Oxford High School building.
‘This is an exceptional group of young adults,? said Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro in her remarks to the class. ‘They will always hold a special place in history because this is the last class to graduate from this building.?
The 254 member class of 2004 from Oxford High School went ‘Out the Door? with Wildcat diploma in hand this past Sunday. The graduation ceremonies may have represented a rich past for the school, but Senior Class President Denise Spratley showed everyone that things change, and with change comes maturity and growth.
‘In elementary school, we would stress out about getting the best swing,? said Spratley, ‘now we worry about getting the most hours we can at work or getting into the best college… At last we were seniors and we started getting serious about our futures.?
Spratley concluded with one piece of advice for her fellow graduates, ‘Whichever door you choose, remember to follow your heart.?
The class of 2004 has had numerous accomplishments over the years. Class Co-sponsor Jeffrey Beane detailed their many achievements such as completing 1,200 hours of community service, participating in 17 different clubs and school activities and having 54 percent of the class receive a scholarship for furthering the educations.
‘The moral of the story is simple – the energy of your youth can help you live your dream,? Beane told the students.
Senior Class Co-sponsor Kristy Gibson-Marshall spoke of the class from a personal perspective, finding a bittersweet irony in the similarities between the graduating seniors and the farewell of the cast of Friends.
‘Remember that ‘The best things in life aren’t things,?? quoted Marshall.
‘It was a joy to watch as they became amazing young people,? she said in her remarks. ‘I enjoyed watching as, like the cast of Friends, they came together from different backgrounds and grew together as friends.?
And friendship was a theme carried through in the senior class honor speeches. Many of the presenters, those receiving the top ten highest honors in the class, became overwhelmed by emotion.
‘Take a good look around and cherish every moment,? said Kati Sands, who compared her high school experience to summertime at a cottage. ‘We’ve tried to leave Oxford High School better than we found it, and I think we have. We are left with the memories of the people we’ve spent the best summer of our lives with.?
‘As much as we wanted to get out of here, this school and these people are what kept us here,? said David Reile. ‘We have grown together and individually.?
Also presenting honor speeches were Stephanie Smith, Scott Hyder, Manna Hara, Heather Nawrocki, Stephanie Pohl, Sarah McLean and Laura Grai.
Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro was once again given the honor of presenting the Class of 2003’s Oxford Cup. David Reile was chosen as this year’s honoree from a group of remarkable individuals that included Laura Grai, Alan Adorjan, Nichole Crosson and Denise Spratley.
In her closing remarks, Brennan-Kyro chose to give the Class of 2003 a guide to life as they walk ‘Out the Door? towards their futures. From the book On Your Own by Detroiter Jeffrey Caponigro, Brennan-Kyro provided these snippets of advice:
Dream big. Earn the trust of those around you. Read. Always give the benefit of the doubt. Don’t write anything in an e-mail you don’t want to see on the front page of your local newspaper. Stay in touch with your grandparents. Be polite when pulled over by a policeman. Be generous. Trust your parents.
‘You have achieved success through the support of your parents, your teachers and others,? said Brennan-Kyro. ‘You now hold the tools to strive for your own personal dreams.?