Iola High School’s Class of 2011 shouldn’t consider their graduation ceremony as the end of their high school careers, class speaker Kyle Heffern said.
Rather, they should think of the ceremony as the beginning of their rest of their lives, he said.
After all, the word “commencement” means to begin, not end, Heffern pointed out.
Heffern spoke about various memories, from grilling outgoing senior students as he left the eighth grade — “It goes fast,” he said — to his classmates’ improved behavior as their high school careers progressed.
More than two dozen fights occurred during the students’ freshman year, Heffern recalled. This year, there were just two.
“Our high school years were not centered on the sole purpose of gaining an education,” he said. “They were rather overshadowed by all the lessons we have learned in life.
“Changing the world does not consist of being the next president or senator,” he continued. “It takes only small acts by individuals to better the world.”
Heffern lauded his instructors, in particular long-time chemistry teacher Marv Smith.
“I feel accomplished enough to be able to say that I learned in the era of Marv,” Heffern said. “After today, we are not going to have the same kinds of teachers. In college, they will not be there to hold our hands like in high school.”
College teachers see students as one of hundreds, Heffern noted, “but here in high school we have grown fond of our teachers and I think that they have grown fond of some of us as well. They genuinely care that we receive a great education and that we walk across this stage when it is all said and done.
“I know this is a sad day because it is our last time we will all be together,” he concluded. “But make this day a day of celebration and look back on the years with happiness for all the good times we had together. One of the biggest things to remember is that we will all fail at one time or another if we are being innovative with our lives, so do not let the fear of failure overcome your pursuit of your dreams.”
Seventy-seven seniors earned their high school diplomas during the ceremony, including a quintet who were named co-valedictorians. Charles Apt, Emily Clark, Heffern, Autumn Snesrud and Abby Works all maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average for maintaining all As. Michelle Britt was named salutatorian.
Snesrud and Works also earned Rotary Achievement Awards, presented to senior students who excelled in the classroom and in their ACT tests. Both registered ACT scores of 32 to go with their sparkling GPAs.
High School Principal David Grover broke from the program briefly to lavish praise on outgoing superintendent of schools Dr. Craig Neuenswander.
Neuenswander is resigning his position at the end of the school year to take on a role with the Kansas Department of Education.
Grover praised Neuenswander’s ability to help USD 257 maneuver its way through “these trying economic times.”
Neuenswander leaving “is the state’s gain, but USD 257’s loss,” Grover said.
His comments sparked a rousing ovation from the capacity crowd in the IHS gymnasium.
Ceremony a ‘beginning, not end’
