Grads set sights on future
CHERRY TWP — The air in the Moniteau High School cafeteria was filled with animated murmurs, laughs and an anxious anticipation Wednesday night as 128 students, wearing their black or white gowns, stood in a long line around the walls of the room.
In the center, surrounded by the graduates, Maynard Harvey, principal of Moniteau High School, shared last-minute reminders in a booming voice before the start of the graduation service at the school. He emphasized that commencement is about the individual and it also celebrates the achievement of a group of students. After sharing protocol to have tassels on the right, Harvey told them not to throw their caps into the audience.
Opening the ceremony, class President Matt Marterella said the graduates are making a transition from one journey to another.
Angela Schandelmeier, valedictorian, and Evan Miller, salutatorian, caught audience attention when they jointly presented a television spot featuring the difference between two sides of a popular cookie bar. Together they talked about individuals with different perspectives reaching the same end point, ready for transition, at graduation.
Miller said, “The details of our manufacturing is unique.”
With their military fatigues showing at the necks and hems of their gowns, some graduates showed they had already started on their next journey. Others talked about what their unique next steps will be.
Tyler Scott prepared himself by working in a body shop, participating in the high school Ag Shop and attending the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School. His unique step will be attending NASCAR Technical Institute of Universal Technical Institute.
“I'll learn to build a race car from the ground up,” Scott said. “Hopefully, I'll work at NASCAR running the circuit and working on all the cars.”
Dustin Danner, who also attended Butler County vo-tech, will attend New Castle School of Trades and study heavy equipment operations.“My dad has been my inspiration, said Danner. “With the certificate, I'll be more vital to a company.”Katie Kremer, another vo-tech student, is headed to Butler County Community College for cosmetology business and plans to marry classmate Kyle Davidson in September.“I'm already attending BC3 with a dual major in accounting and business management,” said Davidson.Pole vaulter Heather Porter plans to continue track in college and she is planning beyond that to graduate school.“I'm going to Lock Haven and will be in the honors program in biology with an associate in nanoscience.”In the fall, Nikki Yeckel will be at Duquesne University studying occupational therapy while Marterella, class president and an Eagle Scout, will get started at Robert Morris University studying business administration.Amanda Mock said, “I hope to do mission work and help people who don't have insurance.”To prepare for that, she will study physician assistant science at Gannon University where she has a full scholarship from the Academic Sports League. Schandelmeier and Miller also received full tuition Academic Sports League scholarships. Their participation in Moniteau's champion Academic Decathlon team was an important factor in receiving the scholarships.Continuing a Moniteau tradition, commencement ended with a photographic presentation of the seniors on their journey this school year.“They've had the complete array of experiences,” said Harvey, the principal. “Hopefully we provided them with the fiber and the backbone that they will need as they move into the future. Hopefully we built the platform for their success.”
