Elk Lake gradds Lauren Vermeulen, left, and Jennifer VanEtten, make an exit from Saturday’s Commencement exercises.
“Be well rounded,” advised chemistry teacher Thomas Kotch as he addressed the 78 graduates of the Elk Lake High School class of 2015 during commencement exercises Saturday morning.
Warning against the human tendency to “become cloistered in a world of our own specialties,” Kotch told the graduates to endeavor to become well-balanced, worldly people.
“My advice to you is not to be a one dimensional person,” he said. “Your life should contain coordinates for practical skills, some fine arts and literature, and some science and math.”
Kotch concluded by thanking the graduates, noting, “You have all made me a better teacher.”
Valedictorian Haley Skinner had her own advice for her classmates.
“No matter what you do or where you go,” remarked Skinner, “go forward with the promise of hard work.”
“No great thing will ever fall into your lap,” she said. “Opportunities may appear, but success can only blossom if you put forth the effort necessary to succeed.”
Salutatorian Kyrston Swingle also spoke of success, commenting on the characteristic grit and determination that will enable her class to do big things.
“Life is full of challenges,” said Swingle. “There will be lots of things to knock us down and throw us off track, but we will persevere and we will go far.”
While all the speakers expressed great optimism for the future, Class President Linsey Dudock took a moment to reflect on the past.
“Always remember those daily hellos,” she said, “remember the endless amounts of laughter you have shared with your friends in the cafeteria, the card games in the library, kickball games in gym class, and that last sports game you played in high school.”
The ceremony concluded with the conferring of the diplomas by Superintendent Kenneth Cuomo and the members of the Elk Lake School Board.
High School Principal Brian Mallery noted that of the 78 graduates, 34 would be attending a four-year college or university, 10 will be attending a two-year technical institution, and three will be joining the military. Other graduates’ plans involve entering the workforce and working on the farm.
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