OHS’ Class of 2013 graduates with flare
by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor
The Onaway High School (OHS) Class of 2013 should have adopted the Frank Sinatra song “I Did it My Way” as their class song, because that is how they left the school Sunday during a commencement exercise in front of friends, family and community.
The 33 graduates received their diplomas and turned their tassels to become the newest OHS alumni ready for the world.
It was their flare for deviating from the typical graduation format that probably left a lasting impression on all in attendance.
Twin sisters Megan and Emily Estep, who were two of the four valedictorians to give graduating speeches, shared the podium together.
“We came into this world together, play sports together, take our classes together, and pretty much do everything in between together,” said Megan. “So, we decided that while we’re at it, we might as well give our graduation speech together.”
Emily said they weren’t the luckiest class to come through the school. She said new playground equipment was installed when they went to middle school, and during their last spirit week in high school, there was a snow day. “After a while, we just got use to it. We’re the unlucky Class of 2013, and we’re proud of it.”
Fellow valedictorian Kallie Rae Shimel not only took the podium for her speech, but took over the stage. Her entire speech was like a rhyming Dr. Seuss book. She had a line for each of her teachers, but halfway through pulled the microphone from its holder and moved to the center of the stage for a line about the school board, who had the honor of handing out diplomas.
“Now is a group of seven that be, making decisions for both you and me,” said Shimel. “I am proud to be here and it is quite a reward, so a big thanks to you, our Onaway school board.”
Then, she had some heartfelt and funny thoughts about principal Marty Mix. “This I may say, here is to the man who has been there day after day. A heart of care and dedication he’s got, Mr. Mix is a lot of things, but mixed up he is not.” That sparked laughter from the crowd. “A principal, a teacher, a coach, a friend, our timeouts together have reached their end. So, my thanks to you I will send.”
She then sat on the edge of the stage and commented about each of her classmates in the same way.
Small in numbers, this year’s graduates were strong academically. “Six kids qualified for the highest honors, that is 18 percent of the entire class qualified of valedictorian, salutatorian and honor student,” said superintendent Rod Fullerton. “Nineteen of the 33 Onaway students earned a 3.0 or higher accumulative GPA over their entire high school career. How outstanding is that, 58 percent of this class earned a 3.0 or higher. For that alone, we should applaud this class.”
Mix echoed those remarks. “In the classroom you have amazed me. Starting back to the days of fifth grade when you were the first group to do the Ocqueoc Watershed project…to the 100s of collegiate credit hours you have achieved through dual enrollment, I think your future employers are in for some amazing success.”
Graduation is a time of thanks, including those outside of the school building.
“Finally, Mom and Dad, I love you guys,” said the fourth valedictorian Cassidy Hyde, who got a little choked up during this part of her speech and paused for a brief moment so she could continue. “All that’s good in me is because of you. All that I have the opportunity to become is because of you.”
Honor student Madison Nash also became emotional thanking family. “Mom and Dad, there are no words I can put on paper to describe how much
Salutatorian Chet Winfield said his greatest fear was that he would no longer get to see some of the people he cares about most. “After this day, things such as work, school and the service will separate us.” He congratulated his classmates and added, “I wouldn’t choose to end it any other way or with a different group of people.”
At the end of the ceremony, when the graduates bombarded each other with silly string, Winfield led a charge on stage and doused the school board. That never happened before.
Just another example of the Class of 2013, facing “the final curtain,” doing it their way.