Moniteau graduates cherish memories
CHERRY TWP — As graduates of Moniteau Jr./Sr. High School processed through the auditorium to “Pomp and Circumstance,” some chose to walk wearing tributes to family: by decorating their caps, some seniors displayed the names and photographs of loved ones who had passed away, or who had made an impact on their high school days.
Polaroid photographs, roses and names written in colorful cursive could be seen on the caps, each a little different from the next — reflective of the individual path each senior will take following graduation.
Chloe Crawford-Schlereth, who plans to attend Slippery Rock University to study biology and become a veterinarian, said she was remembering grandparents, great-grandparents and a cousin on her graduation day.
Taking the plunge into the “real world,” Chloe said she was both nervous and excited. Her loved ones, whose pictures were included on her graduation cap along with painted-on school colors, would have been proud, she said, of her academic accomplishments this past year.
Michael Panza, school board president, recognized family members of graduates prior to the presentation of the graduating class, asking parents to rise as the rest of the audience, including the senior class, applauded.
“Parents are their children’s first teachers,” Panza said.
Brock Beachem, senior class president, as well as Catherine Kelly, salutatorian, and valedictorian Samantha Smith, also thanked family and friends before touching on the memories made in high school.
“Ultimately, all of those memories led us to our senior year,” Brock told fellow graduates.
“Take these memories with you,” he said. “Have a story to tell your future friends and future family, and always remember the people who helped shape you, because after tonight, you may never see some of these people again.”
Catherine, who will attend Thiel College to study exercise science, touched on humility in her speech, and the obstacles some have faced in the pursuit of success.
“I’m a firm believer that there’s a purpose to every step we’ve taken throughout this journey,” she said. “No one’s journey has been the same. Each challenge we faced and each setback we overcame was part of a larger design.”
Samantha, who will study pre-medicine at Grove City College, echoed Catherine’s remarks.
She encouraged graduates to be mindful of the present, and to balance discipline and study with rest.
Sean Morrow, who teaches history and social studies, addressed graduates as the faculty speaker, drawing from Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken” as he shared his interpretation and the application of the poem on graduates’ lives.
“With most choices, you can often change your mind,” Morrow said. “The idea that there are no do-overs in life is wrong. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that most of the people in this auditorium have made a mistake or two in their lives, or weren’t happy with the way things were going and simply changed direction to another path.”
“Nobody on this stage, or in this room, knows which path they should take, or even where these forks in the road will present themselves,” Morrow said. “Sometimes you can take the easy, straightforward route. Sometimes you might want to change it up.”
“Next year will lead to new choices and new paths for each of us,” he said.
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The following link to a photo gallery contains dozens of extra photos taken by Butler Eagle photographer Morgan Phillips:
