hatch I'll mention in his speech all of the clay with the shades right about time ring true like where did the time go time goes by and economic and time really does fly thinking about time the idea of time management came to mind it is a time management and interesting concept if you think about it no matter how we manage time in 30 minutes it's still going to be five ten no matter how this evening or this night is managed the Sun will rise at 5:45 tomorrow morning everything written about time management leads me to believe that I and possibly some of you are not good at managing time if we could manage time our children would stay younger holidays vacations and special events would come but they would never go and there would be enough time at each day to get the work that's needed to be done but plenty more time to invest in family friends hobbies and eat himself and if I had managed time better this graduation day would not have come so quickly so class of 2018 would you please allow me to give you just one final time to ponder choose wisely spend your time time is finite and does not start and stop based on individual time management believe me I have tried to manage time but without much success so let me end where I began with a few very true cliches about time only time will tell it's just a matter of time waste of time in the nick of time I lost track of time I hope that you each have the time of your life class of 2018 which please stand every to your families your friends and the staff they can be school district the school board of education you are now graduates of Pine Creek High School from right to left to signify the end of this great journey congratulations class of 2018 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you
you [Music] ladies and gentlemen please rise and welcome to Liberty High School class of [Applause] [Music] [Applause] ladies and gentlemen please remain standing for the presentation of colors by the Academy district 20 Air Force Junior ROTC and the national anthem performed by the Liberty jazz choir [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Music] thank you please be seated hi my name is Cecilia Irvin and I have the honor of introducing the dignitaries on stage all of them have devoted their time talent and energy to help make district 20 the best school district in the state from the Board of Education our president mrs. Tracy Johnson our vice president mrs. Karen Reynolds treasurer mr. Doug Longford director mr. Glenn Streep director mr. Thomas La Valle in our United States Air Force Academy liaison Colonel Troy Harding from our central administration assistant superintendent for administrative services dr. Jim Smith deputy superintendent and chief financial officer mr.
[Music] you [Music] Mic Check Mic Check [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] ladies and gentlemen welcome to the 61st graduation of our Academy High School [Applause] please rise or remain standing for the presentation of the colors under the command of cadet Chief Master Sergeant Andrew Pixley and the performing of the national anthem by aleck chai [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] thank you you may be seated let's give one more round of applause to Alec for that tremendous performance as well as to missus Tina Lee for her accompanying on the keyboard it is my great pleasure to be the principal at our Academy high school and to have shared the last four years with our graduating seniors and one of the seniors that I have enjoyed getting to know very very well over the past four years is our first student speaker and that is our student body president miss Nicole de la Fuente good morning families friends distinguished guests faculty the Board of Education and the class of 2018 thank you for being here on this extremely bittersweet day well here's to the past four years of our lives to the freshman year memories I think we all blocked out of our minds but that definitely shaped us into the people we are today to learning the ropes of how to be a high schooler to being pelted at our first assembly by the upperclassmen riding scooters down the halls while fashionably sporting our class colors to sophomore year and the independence of being in the car without your parents for the first time to then realizing you're halfway done with high school to junior year to the pride that is winning your very first powderpuff game against the seniors to the band never failing to bring back a state title year after year to everything in between that will define us for our final experience that is senior year to the distraught of losing powderpuff but with integrity an improved football season that has been anticipated for a very very long time to an undefeated soccer season with a state championship for the cherry on top to the chaos that is choosing where you will attend college for the next chapter of your life or finding a different path to fulfill your passions to parents painfully maybe even secretly happily looking forward to an empty nest or one less kid in the house - the year of lasts of one mores one more first week one more football game one more semester one more prom one more day of high school one last time a lot of us will ever see each other again - knowing that there is so much more than what we leave here to a lifetime of Moore's here's to the future here's to the class of 2018 thank you I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the distinguished dignitaries who are present today for this celebration first all I would like to present Colonel Troy Harding Board of Education United States Air Force Academy liaison mr.
[Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you Thank You rampart graduation band for your accompaniment families friends students and most honored guests please stand and with the exception of our graduates mortars please remove your hats for the presentation of colors by rampart High School Air Force Junior ROTC in our national anthem sung and performed by sensations [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] welcome with the exception of the faculty standing in front of the stage you may now be seated good evening and welcome to rampart high school graduation commemorating the class of 2018 let's give them a round of applause [Applause] I am Pete Pete Alvarez principal of rampart High School and it is my honor to be with you tonight and it declared the rampart High School 2018 commencement ceremony begun I think we should probably get out of the way there's gonna be a hot one in here tonight so it's kind of hydrate throughout the ceremony I'd like to take this moment to recognize and thank all the teachers counselors and support staff who have helped the class of 2018 reached this point today I would also like to call out our retirement recipients this year beginning with Miss Julie Gregory [Music] [Applause] miss Gregory has taught English at rampart high school for the last 14 years after having had a previous career in private instrumental music education in hertz editor time at rampart miss Gregory has been deeply involved with both branches of the International Baccalaureate and has led and sponsored many student activities and co-curricular as well as having assumed leadership appointments as a professional level in the building miss Gregory will be assisting with her husband's accounting firm and together they are very much looking forward to visiting their sons on the East Coast more often and exploring the in the continent and their recreational vehicle miss Gregory reports that she will surly miss the interactions with her students and the rapport that she has with colleagues that she has enjoyed during her time at rampart thank you miss Gregory for your dedication and service to rampart High School mr.
[Music] you [Music] you [Music] you [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] good evening ladies gentlemen welcome to the commencement of the class of 2018 we respectfully ask that you stand for the presentation of the colors as but as presented by representatives arm of our US military branches staff sergeant genteel Army National Guard Petty Officer Ewing Navy Staff Sergeant Haddix Air Force petty officer Walker to Coast Guard Staff Sergeant brown Marines and representing our district 201 color guard our Corey Allen Matthew Blizzard Haley Martin and Dawn Dallas Rogers [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we needed I would like to introduce dr. Jeff Dozier superintendent of district 201 for introductions good evening I also would like to welcome all of you to the commencement ceremonies here at Belleville West for the class of 2018 very proud to be the superintendent here at district 201 graduates let me say this I know how much work that you've put in to get thus far this far so I want to be the first to congratulate you as a group to all of the parents grandparents and other family members that are here with us tonight or maybe you're watching on livestream I also congratulate you we we know what a powerful role parents and family members play and how you have been and will continue to be influential in your students life so I also congratulate you students let's give them a round of applause all right I would also like to urge each of the students to take time tonight to thank those parents family members and don't do it by text or social media put those phones away for a little bit and just talk to them parents you like that idea now it's my pleasure to introduce members of our board of education who are here with us tonight our president Kurt Schrader our vice president Carol Eckert Bryan Barton Mike iScan and Mark sourwine our central office staff with us tonight is dr.
which was still the dream is there is excess presented injuries on the nose or it was basic [Music] and without interest [Music] ah by in the forfait they want out video and the water in the form of video sofia caster the dance on the line of 6 am america in chile percent warney in arriving I'm leaving the love monkey from here
Tom Gregory and our superintendent dr. mark hatch all our special our special guests principle of summer view middle school mr. Bret's men from our administration Dean of Students mrs. Angela dukkha administrator for the class of 2021 mrs. Cindy Wenzel administrator for the class of 2020 and activities director mrs. Kelly Hoyle administrator for the class to 2019 and athletic director mr. Michael Sibley Liberty's top-notch administrator of the best liberty class ever the class of 2018 mrs. Holly Meacham and our principal mr. Allen Timmy in just two hours our high school journey will be officially over I just wanted to thank the class of 2018 for making senior year such a fun and memorable year full of laughter and fun and I'll catch you guys on the flip side [Applause] good afternoon friends and family my name is Riley newcomer and I have the distinguished honor of recognizing the amazing faculty and staff of Liberty High School I believe in the power of expressing gratitude to the people who change your life with that said I'd like to take this time to thank some teachers and staff at Liberty who have personally impacted me and many of us here today so - miss Paulin you have shown me what it means to be both an extraordinary teacher and an incredibly caring individual thank you for walking into class every day with a positive and a little bit sassy attitude reminding us angels that today really is a good day and a great day Thank You mr.
Glenn Streep Board of Education director mr. Tom LaValley Board of Education director mr. Doug Lundberg Board of Education treasurer but most importantly a retired Air Academy high school science teacher used to be right there with you guys we got to get our priorities straight mrs. Tracy Johnson Board of Education president mrs. Karen Reynolds Board of Education vice president mr. Sean whitson assistant principal mrs. Robin Colton Hoeven assistant principal dr. mark Wahlstrom assistant principal and soon-to-be principal at Discovery Canyon campus mister or excuse me dr. Jim Smith a sister assistant superintendent for Academy school district 20 mr. Tom Gregory deputy superintendent for Academy School District 20 and finally it is my sincere pleasure to introduce a tremendous supporter of Air Academy High School and the entire district our Superintendent of Schools dr. Marc Achille thank you very much I appreciate appreciate that I did student teach at Air Academy High School about 37 years ago and have long attributed much of their success to my six months there as a student teacher and also seniors I apologize I have been a superintendent for 17 years and I think this is the first time I've never called a snow day I tried let me first say on behalf of my bosses the Board of Education congratulations to the class of 2018 [Applause] I also want to personally thank Emma Baum who has served on my student Advisory Committee for the past two years Thank You Emma Academy School District is on an incredible roll and seniors you have been a big part of that we're proud of you and we will miss you and I must say is the superintendent I've never had more fun than this year with all the new schools new built buildings being built additions renovations new designs this year has been a blast and seniors you're getting out of our Academy just in time because soon major construction is starting at your school I was a high school principal for five years and this is my 17th year as the superintendent so this is my 22nd year of giving graduation speeches averaging 5 or 6 a year I think I've given over 100 of these but I have to say this year is different because my daughters are also graduating from high school this year and I can clearly remember 12 years ago giving a graduation speech at a ceremony just like this one just like this stage and same parents I know a little how you feel my daughters are graduating from kindergarten well parents now 12 years later I know exactly how you feel seniors during your time in high school there have been two tragic events in our area the black forest fire and of course the Waldo Canyon fire which affected this community so much there's also been some very memorable things that happen in the district during your career I will long remember I remember giving a perceiver test to a kindergarten student at Douglass Valley Elementary I showed him a picture an apple he said Apple I said good good I showed him a picture of a turtle he said turtle I said great I showed a picture an airplane he looked at it he scratched his head he looked at the ceiling he looked at again and says I don't know I I always get confused but it's either an f-16 or an f-18 you always know you're in the Eric Academy Air Force Academy reading here's an oh yes I remember a district security camera catching an intruder trying to get into the back door to the kitchen at Air Academy high school it was about 2:00 a.m.
Robert McKinney is not here with us tonight but mr. McKinney has taught in the social science department at rampart for 22 years is preceded by four years of teaching mathematics out of state and prior to mr. McKinney's career in education he served in the United States Air Force for 27 years after having graduated in 1970 from this very Academy [Applause] during his time in the Air Force among other things he taught he was a pilot and he served as a UN peacekeeper mr. McKinney shared that nothing he did while in the Air Force was more important than what he has accomplished within the rampart community he is grateful and humbled by the opportunity to have taught with us mr. McKinney [Applause] after 21 years in education miss Payne is also retiring and not with us here tonight after having served at rampart for the last 11 years as our librarian miss Payne has worked tirelessly to afford students opportunities to belong in our learning community she has directed the growth and evolution of our library media center into a true 21st century library focusing on research resources miss Payne is retiring to the greater Tampa Florida area with her husband John and she plans to spend her newfound free time in the sea-level sunshine and traveling miss Payne was unable to be here tonight as I said but we thank her for her dedication and service miss Carolyn Payne finally our last retiree is mr.
Brian Menzer Andrea Gannon Malcolm Hill Josh Lane and Melissa Taylor enjoy our commencement ceremony and thank you very much [Applause] tonight we celebrate the graduation of the class of 2018 students we thank you for your commitment to your education over the past four years you have grown as students and as people we wish you great success and joy at this time is my pleasure to introduce Miss Kelly Kulick student council president who'll give the senior proclamation I'm a little emotional so I apologize welcome everyone to the class of 2018 commencement my name is Kelly Kulick and it's my privilege to be speaking on behalf of my class as the student body president every one of you worked immensely hard to be here tonight with the support of your friends and your family who loved you you made it through 720 days of high school that's yeah that's over 5,000 hours of our lives that we spent at West not including outside homework extracurricular activities or early morning meetings in our final hours as Maroons the amount of time that we spent here doesn't really matter what matters is what we as individuals and as a class accomplished in that time every one of us has changed since entering West we transitioned from awkward freshman to slightly less awkward seniors we passed four years of growth or we passed four years worth of English classes reading almost 5 million pages in that time I can also say with confidence that if you are sitting here tonight you managed to pass the state-mandated Constitution test yeah that alone deserves some serious recognition thank you we learned how to navigate the buildings and hallways of school so that we made it to class on time usually we learned how to mix and match five different colors in two four years worth of outfits at the same time we developed our public speaking skills our note-taking our time management and our scientific reasoning we also discovered our true talents whether that be an art music writing performance service or athletics West offered all of us a welcoming place to find our niche and express ourselves we also found success outside of the classroom our senior class was the first to see a state basketball championship for West [Applause] that victory ties us together as we supported our team on the way to the final game on a slightly more disappointing note we managed to make it out of West without ever winning homecoming well this really isn't a success I know it is something that we achieved so but nonetheless all of us are now very adept at yelling school chants and screaming at the top of our lungs on command which I am absolutely sure will be useful in our adult lives but really school taught us more than just practical skills we learned who our true friends are and how to trust others we learned the meaning of feeling bone-tired especially during finals week each and every one of us has grown and matured through these last four years and now they're letting us run free our class with the unique distinction of being born in two different centuries is finally graduating moving on to the next step in our lives after four years we've learned so much about ourselves we've laughed with each other cried with each other and loved one another so much that I don't believe there's anything that could hold us back no matter what these last four years brought you know that you are prepared you are capable and you will achieve whatever you set out to do I have no doubt Thank You class of 2018 [Applause] tonight we honor and recognize the retiring staff of Belleville Wesson district 201 these individuals have given tirelessly to the Belleville West and district 201 family their expertise and commitment the Belleville West and the community has been greatly appreciated I would like to recognize our retirees individualised that teacher Allen Albert our administrative assistant Debbie Alice ASCII mathematics teacher Jeff Boyles [Applause] speech language pathologist Beth Conroy individualized ed teacher Carol Frances Jorns administrative assistant Marty Haas custodian Dave hit bird teacher assistant barb Hulk individualized IDI teacher Bill Hulk teacher assistant Ken Jones individualized ed teacher jamie luttrell teacher assistant Don Schobert physical education teacher Jane Sperry and custodian Marc Wonderlic thank you for your tireless effort on behalf of our district and the students of Belleville West we also like to thank all the faculty who are volunteering this evening in order to make this a great event in an effort to recognize the highest academic achievement of students above the West we developed the program to on deter top 1% top two to five percent and the top six to ten percent these students are identified by wearing different colored stoles also students are wearing different colored cords for National Honor Society student council Running Start lifesavers around me and various metals they've earned during their high school career the students designated that the top 1% summa laude with delivered a class farewell ladies and gentlemen class of 2018 please welcome the representatives from summa laude Kiley Burke grant Engel Sarah fries grace Hickerson Kelly Kulick Quarry Padgett Andrew Romano Georgie Warren and Audrey young [Applause] I would like to begin by congratulating the class of 2018 as together we embark upon the next chapter of our lives we are all honored to stand before you and present the commencement speech for the class okay I would like to begin by congratulating the class of 2018 as together we embark upon the next chapter of our lives we are all honored to stand before you and present the commencement speech for the class of 2018 tonight we will share a few passages that embody the New Life passages that we will encounter in our futures we have completed the journey of high school and now we all have our own unique paths ahead of us through our selections we hope to display the different pathways we are about to explore and travel down the first piece we have is an excerpt from a poem titled your mission by Ellen M H gates presented by Kiley Burke [Applause] if you cannot in the harvest gather up the riches Chiefs many a grain both ripe and golden off the careless Reaper leaves go and glean among the briars growing rank against the wall for it may be that their shadow hides the heaviest grain of all do not then stand idly waiting for some greater work to do fortune is a lazy goddess she will never come to you go in toil in any vineyard do not fear to do or dare if you want a field of labor you can find it anywhere gates leaves us with the notion that nothing comes with ease the most rewarding experiences follow the hardest work we all work tirelessly for our great accomplishments thus far but it does not end here our experience is up to this point have prepared us for whatever journey we choose to embark on next defeat is the only thing that is guaranteed but despite our failures we will continue to work hard so we may find our own fields of labour and discover vast fortunes amidst the shadows and Romano and Audrey young will now read from Rudyard Kipling's if [Applause] Kipling addresses what makes a perfect man or woman in his poem even though he wrote this piece circa 1895 killings advice and virtues can apply to each and every one of us gathered here today if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you but make allowance for their doubting too if you can wait and not be tired by waiting or being lied about don't deal in lies or being hated don't give way to hating and yet don't look too good nor talk too wise if you can dream and not make dreams your master you can think and not make thoughts your aim if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two Impostors just the same if you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss and lose and start again at your beginnings and never breathe a word about your loss if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they are gone and so hold on when there is nothing in you except the will which says to them hold on if you can walk with crowds and keep your virtue or walk with Kings nor lose the common touch if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you if all men count with you but none too much if you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run yours is the earth and everything that's in it and which is more you'll be humble my friends none of these virtues Kipling describes are loud or extravagant none require a cape stardom or wealth but all embody humility morality and sincerity graduates all of you possess something great we have a mission and today is ours so remember don't ever lose sight of your pretend your strengths and your promise now class of 2018 let's go and now we'd also like to offer some advice from people much more qualified than us to give it in the words of motivational speaker mark Hanson don't wait until everything is just right it will never be perfect there will always be challenges obstacles and less than perfect conditions so what get started now with with each step you take you will grow stronger and stronger more and more skilled more and more self-confident and more and more successful well none of us are fully prepared to start high school none of us were fully prepared to start high school we didn't have a choice and now once again we are on the precipice of taking another step in the journey of life as Hanson said you will never be fully ready for anything but each step along your path prepares you for the next as you leave this room acknowledge your fears your doubts and then despite them step [Applause] just as Mark Hansen tells us to take another step Franklin D Roosevelt tells us that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself do not be afraid of the next step whether from a coach and a pep talk before the big game or a caring teacher before a final exam or a best friend before a performance we have all heard this quote in one way or another just as those coaches teachers and friends have challenged us in the past let the challenge remain let us not shy away from new opportunities exciting journeys and of course the new passages that lay ahead of us in life life is short don't be afraid the new adventures instead make them count [Applause] and as we embark on these new adventures I offer the words of poet CP Cavafy keep it always in your mind arriving there is what you're destined for but don't hurry the journey at all better if it lasts for years so you're old by the time you reach the island wealthy with all you've gained along the way not expecting ethica to make you rich in Greek mythology King Odysseus spent ten years travelling through the most magical and monstrous of places trying to reach his way home to the island of Ithaca every graduate today has a destination we seek akin to this be it an educational career centered or personal goal remember as you go off on your life's next great passage in search of them to enjoy the journey Homer's epic poem was called The Odyssey not the Ithaca for a reason [Applause] what a ride these past four years have been it's crazy to think that our time together has come to an end but as one if the COS reached a new Odyssey begins and I know that we've all worked long and hard to reach our next destination Mark Twain once said life is short break the rules forgive quickly love slowly kiss slowly love truly laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that makes you smile so on our next Odyssey I invite everyone to step back take a breath and revel in all that life gives you to close Grace Hickerson will leave us with two additional passages reminding us that our futures are indeed bright that our goals will be met that our dreams will be fulfilled and that the Stars will be reached in the wise words of Roald Dahl in an r and if you are interested in something no matter what it is go out at full speed ahead embrace it with both arms hug it love it and above all become passionate about it lukewarm is no good hot is no good either white hot and passionate is the only thing to be do not let your fire go out spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite the not-yet and the not at all do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserve and have never been able to reach the world you desire can be won it exists it is real it is possible it is yours congratulations class of 2018 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] tonight is your night graduates we celebrate you the class of 2018 all of us gathered here in the gymnasium and the Performing Arts Center and online are collectively applauding your accomplishments feeling proud of you and wishing you happiness and success 35 years ago as a member of the Buffalo West class of 83 I wore a cap and gown and was waiting at the old Belleville s for commencement to begin parents I know that many of you can relate seniors I have dressed you numerous times over the past four years and today I proudly address you as the graduating class of 2018 for the students gathered before me the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year was destined to be as special as they entered campuses seniors one final year to you a long time to your parents or guardians a blink of an eye just a few days into the school year on August 21st we went with one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights the total solar eclipse the last time you consider iski that us saw a total eclipse was in 1979 I was 14 for the first time since 1442 five hundred fifteen years ago many of the Metro East residents would be able to experience the phenomenon of totality and Belva this event began at 11:50 a.m.
Oliveira for showing us that physics is so cool that it applies the laws of well physics thank you mr. and mrs. Straub for showing us how to live healthy enriching and sustainable lives and that even social studies teachers can be hashtag relationshipgoals Thank You mr. t for being the principal reason why the school is still running thank you to the custodian Secretary's lunch staff and administrators who work tirelessly with little recognition Thank You mr. McGuire for showing me grace when I didn't deserve it and advice when I especially needed it these past few years you have braved the storm with incredible strength and have given me something to aspire to and finally Thank You teachers he relentless relentlessly invested in each and every one of us you spend breaks and weekends grading papers putting together lesson plans and creating slideshows we know you aren't in the profession for money so we would like to pay you pay you our appreciation faculty and staff of Liberty High School would you stand so we can honor you you may be seated now graduates you know at least one teacher who has changed your life let them know how they impacted you and don't forget to pay them a little gratitude thank you hello and welcome everyone to celebrate this special occasion it is my honor to be standing on this stage presenting with Dawson Calloway and it is my pleasure to be sharing this opportunity to introduce the class of 2018 with Jennifer Van Buren very quickly I would like to give a special thank you to mrs.
we caught it clearly on two different cameras it was a bear last January I went to Los Angeles to watch your marching band perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade what an incredible time that was and after the parade my son and I were walking out with a number of other parents and we heard one parent ask another now that college contest they have this afternoon is it televised and I'm thinking that's the Rose Bowl yes it is televised I remember asking some elementary students advice for seniors I could give it their graduation a third grade student is Chinook Trail his advice for you was if you want something really expensive ask your grandparents Avenue da Vinci his advice was don't call anyone over 30 a goat they won't know what it means happened to me last week and Ryan from Rock Rim and this is my favorite he said never ever root for Nebraska or the Oakland Raiders this summer is my 40th high school class reunion it's amazing how time flies my class the class of 1978 has a surgeon who specializes in arthroscopic surgery on shoulders my class has a person who is convicted of murder that made headlines statewide my class the class of 78 has a number of high-ranking officers in the military and the first african-american police commander in his City my class has an inmate in Canyon City serving 15 to 20 years for a terrible crime my class the class of 78 has teachers nurses a pastor a professional musician a pilot and a handsome Superintendent of the best school district in the state my class has guys still hanging around widefield looking for something to do in 40 years what are we gonna say about you in your class of 2018 now graduates today while your minds race with excitement and anticipation your parents are remembering they're remembering their special time and their short season with you as a child they're remembering the first time they ever held you in their arms they vividly remember your face holding a shoebox of supplies as you left for the first day of kindergarten they remember the picture you painted them in second grade they remember seeing you perform in school programs and athletic events they remember their pride seeing you in your graduation cap and gown but most of all most of all they're thinking how how did time go by so fast graduates as you go upon your journey seize the moment do not find that when you've come to die that you have not lived do something important for your fellow man improve the lives of the men and women you share this planet with give service and enjoy an exciting life with many Ward's on behalf Academy school district 20 and it's nearly 30 thousand staff and students I wish upon each of you all the good fortune in the world god bless [Applause] thank you dr.
John Shevlin [Music] [Applause] mr. Shevlin is retiring after 21 years at rampart High School he has shared that at the time of his hiring here he knew he was home and that he would be at rampart until the end of his teaching career and that his retirement is a bittersweet proposition because he has enjoyed every single day at rampart he reports being privileged to work with such amazing students and staff whom he feels have enriched his life mr. Shevlin reports that he values profoundly the friendships of which he has been a part thanks to having taught and coached at rampart mr. Shevlin states that he will remain forever grateful for all the years he has spent in our community Thank You mr. Chevron for your dedication and service to rampart High School [Applause] I would like to thank all the teachers that that are with us here tonight for their dedication to education the art of teaching and to contributing to the growth of these young adults is without equal they do what they do because of their love of students and knowing that rampart students are amongst the best and the brightest on behalf of the rampart administration parents and students I think thank each and every one of you for your dedication and service to rampart High School you have made a difference for students in and out of the classroom [Applause] rampart faculty you are now invited to please take your place in the floor with our seniors for the commencement exercises honoring the class of 2018 I now give you your senior class president and your student body president nay had called Cara and nedra this war often you know we were tying to mr.
and peaked at 118 and was completed at 244 in a matter of 2 hours and 54 minutes all of them all of the months of anticipation and solar eclipse height was over but the incredible journey from start to finish was remarkable and sprinkled with visual gems that will be remembered for a lifetime graduates your time spent here above LS is synonymous to the solar eclipse as that was a remarkable journey one that we remember for a lifetime as your parents wondered just how high school graduation day is arrived so quickly the phases of the solar eclipse may help to explain this phenomenon also just as the Eclipse kicks off with what was called first contact when the moon starts to pass across the Sun your parents recall the first contact with you when they were over the moon with the thrill of becoming a parent a family and they saw stars in your eyes and the possibilities were as endless as the universe graduates you may recall your first contact with new friends new experiences and new teachers building bonds over your time here above all West coming in your own revealing many new facets of yourself as the moon continued to cover up the Sun revealing first a crescent Sun and after about an hour almost completely blocking out the Sun nearing the point of totality night times seemed to take over where daylight was just moments before our senses seemed to be confused by this phenomenon of nature and seemed anything but natural for some in this gymnasium you had moments during your high school journey that caused you to traverse a moment of darkness discover ways to once again see the light and through it all you grew as a person just as the light started to radiate out of the silver distance sliver of distance between the Sun and the moon a time known as diamond the diamond ring may you always see the gems that are hidden just beyond the darkness radiate with light of the clearest diamond show others what a gem you are to this world the class of 2018 had many moments this year that were just as unique inspiring and momentous as the solar eclipse members of maroon magic in our band and chorus performed with the United States Air Force Concert Band and singing sergeant the boys basketball team brought home the state championship with Miles Wilding Tain's singing the star-spangled banner and many accolades earned by so many students in drama debate band numerous clubs and athletics these students that sit before me today certainly know how to use their talents to be the brightest and the best during the Eclipse totality lasted for a maximum of 2 minutes and 43 seconds and yet as a moment of time that is truly unforgettable parents I'm sure you feel that your child's high school career seemed to have passed just about as quickly graduates remember the great moments don't take a lifetime to create use each minute wisely let your light shine and whatever Avenue you choose to follow beat a career college or military service and the words of Beth Conroy he was retiring this year just like the solar eclipse don't forget to be awesome I now certify the class of 2018 to the Board of Education and superintendent Dozier is having met the requirements of the state of Illinois the Board of Education of district 201 and the Faculty of Belleville West and now I asked the president of Board of Education of district 201 mr.
Scott mrs. Straub sunyata rookie and mr. Croker as the sole reasons for my survival throughout high school I would like to give a quick shout-out to miss Scott and miss Briggs for helping me organize and become prepared for college Madam Feiglin for all the stories and telling me talk to me Doss and lastly mr. Woodson who is always there to remind me to get it together hectic intimidating surreal anxious unprepared overwhelming these are the feelings many of us experienced walking through the doors on the first day of freshman year preparing us to open the very first page of our high school series through the years we've been told countless times to never judge a book by it's cover I'm here to say we judged a very long book by its cover our book begins freshman year with our very first dance the fear of homecoming being scared to ask someone or being rejected when asking worse off the girls that get asked by someone they don't want asking let alone the actual dance itself being at night for the first time we showed up after the Sun went we all remember another amazing feeling once Friday came around and we had 45 minutes all to ourselves during Lancer time not only were we free from class but the deca store sold chick-fil-a and it was actually open freshman year was definitely the year of firsts sophomore year was well a little interesting for me and everyone a year with many lessons and a great place to grow preparing us for the next chapter in our books reminding us to keep our heads high and to reach out to those close to us one of those many valuable lessons was to hide in a trunk to sneak off campus for lunch and for those of us who got asked to prom early this is the beginning of freedom for the few of us who also got our licenses then junior year finally comes we are legally allowed to leave campus for lunch junior prom powder puff peach fuzz and of course the demoralizing SAT NAC teased plural because some of us took both of them more than once the weird feeling of being older sits in as we're now upperclassmen many fall in love for the first time discover new passions in life and become to find the new person we want to become for sports and activities we begin our roles in our programs being someone underclassmen look up to as we once did before also a big shout out to marching band bringing home the dub of the state championship winning by point zero two points against air academy [Applause] with new things like slang including fire the goat Yolo extra salty fake news bet and the occasional parting with bye Felicia but wait don't forget about hot minute facts suss and lid we turn the page to senior year senior sunrise the rising of our last first day music blankets pitchers and the early-morning trip to IHOP before school looking back at the years we reflect how we have changed and grown where we as seniors can pass on traditions like Steven Myers and his snapchat stories advertising themes and games for everyone to know our senior assembly started the spirit for the year as we shot off our confetti poppers and through our streamers as far as we could chanting seniors with Dutch Bros in our hand and chako's on our feet senior year took off after finals first semester once second semester started nothing else was on our mind besides prom senior breakfast senior skip day our last day of high school and ending in our senior sunset the time flew by and here we are we wrap up a year of legendary songs quoting she said do you love me I told her only partly I only love my bed and my momma I'm sorry but just know I'm a wocket like I talked it and now I'm Way too good at goodbyes over the past 1461 days our perspective of high school was highly misjudged the book turned into everything we could have hoped for but never imagined in a few seconds or very long minutes we will find ourselves walking across this stage as well as the occasional tripping as graduates from our high school career I hope to leave you with the last few words to always be present in life through the countless hours we spend on cha-cha Instagram and Twitter how truly present were we it doesn't matter that your dream came true if you spent your whole life sleeping so get up get out there and go for it but don't get caught up waiting here we are the last page of our books in this series closing one but preparing to open the next that I am / pop closing one but preparing to open our next that I'm positive we will all miss judge again as we now depart for our next journey we would like to thank you all for these amazing years and we wish everyone the very best on their journeys always remember yesterday is not ours to recover but tomorrow is ours to win or lose thank you will the graduates in the class of 2018 please rise and be recognized [Applause] you may be seated great job seniors lace gentlemen it is my pleasure to introduce Liberty highschool salutatorian please welcome Thomas Williams Tom is a son of Mary and Mitchell Williams and has been in district 20 for the past eight years attending ranch Creek Elementary School timber View middle school and all four years at Liberty at Liberty Tom was a member of student council through his junior year as a member of knowledge ball track National Honor Society our new Robotics Club called best robotics in science olympiad outside of school tom is involved in Colorado Springs Teen Court and spends time writing and exercising over his high school career he was able to obtain a four point six five three eighth grade point average in the fall Tom will attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City where he plans to major in metallurgical engineering which Tom explained to me is processing the materials from the quarry to the kiln to make it a usable product he has career aspirations of being an engineer because they deal with objective reality and he can help design products work successfully when applied to many situations Tom in recognition of your valiant efforts at Liberty High School I hereby award you with the salutatorian medal ladies gentlemen Thomas Williams Thank You mr.
hatch 'el at this time please welcome Jenna clue sat who will be performing rise up you're broke in town and tired of living - merry-go-round but you can't find the fight but I see it in you so we gonna walk it out and move my chains we're gonna walk it out and move mountains and we'll rise up rise like the day will rise I will rise on afraid will rise up and we'll do it a thousand times again and will rise up high like waves will rise up in spite of the a cake will rise up and we'll do it a thousand times again [Music] for you when the silence is a quiet Anna feels like it's getting hard to breathe and I know you feel like dying but I promise we'll take the world to its feet [Music] Mountains will take you to its feet and moo-hoo [Music] my Chin's and will rise up rise like the dayi will rise up will rise on afraid we will rise up and we'll do it a thousand times again [Music] we will rise a wheel [Music] and will rise up rise like the waves will rise up in spite of the a hey Eliza hand will do it a thousand times a game and will rise [Music] and we'll do what if those enzymes again [Music] you [Music] absolutely amazing outstanding job the next student speaker I would like to introduce is our summa laude speaker this young man is the embodiment of everything that is good about public education not only is he smart funny a tremendous athlete but he is also a tremendous student of character it has been my pleasure to get to to know him well over the past few years but the the thing about Jonathon is when we were doing our senior awards he's just seemed to be winning award after award after award so afterwards I told him I said it you ever heard about the small concert venue award they used to do years ago and he said no and I said well Red Rocks Amphitheatre used to win it every single year but then after they wanted every year they decided just to name the award the Red Rocks Amphitheatre award because they wanted every year I said we're just gonna have to name all these awards to Jonathan Flatt memorial Awards because that is what he does he wins them every single year so without any further ado I would like to introduce our summa laude speaker Jonathan flap fellow cadets here we are here we sit teetering on the edge of what may very well be our greatest milestone to date today we graduate as the class of 2018 thank you to our moms dads grandparents teachers administrators and friends old and new thank you to our generous hosts the Air Force Academy thank you to the men and women in uniform who protect our nation so that we may share this moment and lastly [Applause] and lastly Thank You class of 2018 bound in blood-red t-shirts shorts tights and Teletubby costumes who do you have to thank for this wonderful opportunity when you leave this arena go thank them as we all know high school is not a solo endeavor it has been a long journey almost as long as the walk from senior lot to debilitating and of course the accomplishments that came with it I won't pepper you with memories but I have to mention the two undefeated seasons in boys soccer an extraordinary performance by the cadet marching band in the parade of roses and almost 4-year streak of bands state championships and a thrilling victory against the class of 2017 in powderpuff we won't talk about this year or perhaps we should it is just as important to recognize our failures not to dwell in sadness but to learn from the defeat what happened on that fateful night some may blame tied flags others point to an unfair lack of substitutions I blame complacency when we were juniors we embodied the spirit of the underdog ready to prey on unsuspecting seniors we worked hard and the scoreboard showed it this year we were complacent looking down on the juniors who could not possibly beat the seniors as we had done the year before we were comfortable on top of the world until somehow we fell we were complacent but why are we complacent why must we blame senioritis for a mentality of complacency how can we ever be comfortable being just good enough our teachers have not been complacent they have dedicated their lives to developing our character and improving our future they challenged us to find our passion and never stop learning they don't settle for just good enough just good enough did not land a man on the moon just good enough did not bring an end to segregation and part I'd just good enough did not bring about a technological revolution that places the entire knowledge of the Internet in our very pockets just good enough will not land a man on Mars it will not find a cure for cancer it will not make a professional athlete or author a best-selling novel or win a Grammy just good enough will lead to a complacent life a life of mediocrity and unfulfillment class of 2018 we are not mediocre we will be the generation to explore the cosmos and mend the conflicts around the globe because we are a class of outstanding engineers phenomenal artists distinguished speakers magnificent musicians gifted writers and exceptional athletes just look to the gorgeous murals that adorn the walls of our Academy or the intricate innovations of our engineering students and you will see that such is clear we are not mediocre we cannot be complacent we must not be complacent the world is expecting great things from us the world needs great things from us an air Academy has taught us the skills to deliver whether you are attending a university to continue your studies serving our nation in the Armed Forces learning at a vocational College entering the workforce or taking a gap year to explore the world or serve your community be assured the air academy has given you a world-class education to succeed in any path you choose never be complacent cadets don't settle for just good enough be great [Applause] great job Jonathan this time I would like to introduce the award-winning air academy Chamber Singers under the direction of missus Tina Lee they will be performing a special piece commissioned for you the air academy high school class of 2018 for your graduation ceremony the profound text is derived from Rudyard Kipling's poem if and the music was written for you by renowned composer Kevin Podolski who regrettably cannot be here today please welcome our Chamber Singers [Music] Oh [Music] you outstanding job Chamber Singers every year Air Academy High School has auditions from the members of the senior class to give the senior speech they are coached and guided from our faculty representatives including the award-winning teacher mr.
Alvarez earlier today and he said he was gonna start graduation off with a light-hearted joke but instead he just introduced us we would like to welcome staff administration parents families guests and most of all graduates to the graduation ceremony for the class of 2018 as cliche as it sounds it's crazy to think that most of us went through four years of high school and that today we're all here together whether you did a P DP or traditional whether you were on the soccer team or the football team whether you were playing Dungeons & Dragons or participated in band today we are all walking across the same stage it seems like we've been waiting years until this moment until it seems like such a small word but when we never realize it's how often we use it we go through our entire lives waiting until the next moment until our next event until our next milestone we're so caught up waiting for the next that we forget to live in the now one of the most impactful teachers I've had used to tell me that you can't just sit around and wait for life to happen that it's not the big achievements that define you it's the little moments leading up to it and for that I'd like to thank mr.
Kurt Schrader come forward to present the diplomas to the class of 2018 on behalf of the Board of Education it's my pleasure to accept the class of 2018 and the board extends to all of the graduates all of our best for you to have a bright and happy life congratulations mr. Burton's will you please read the roll [Applause] [Music] Kelly Kulick student body president Sara Hayden class president just encoder hand class vice president Kaley hanger class secretary Elena bisher Renaissance Eagle art winter along with Kelly Kulick the next eight students to receive their diploma have the designation of graduating summa laude on our weighted grading scale that reward students for taking the most difficult of courses the school offers they ranked at the top 1% of the class of 2018 in addition those qualifying for Renaissance distinction and for maintaining high honors for four years are wearing maroon and white cords kylie Burke grant angle Sarah fries grace Hickerson Cori Padgett Andrew Romano Georgie Warren Audrey young class treasurer along with Sarah Hayden and Elena be sure the next 15 students received their diplomas have the designation of magna laude they rank at the top 5% in the class of 2018 Kayla Bell Kayla breakers Emma bad key Megan's A's Cassidy Farrar Addison handy sack Abigail Scott Jacob McCloskey Andrew moss Gavin McCoy Reese I'm ER Connor Odom Michaela Kuhlman pooja Patel Taylor Matheny ax along with just encoder hunt the next 24 students have earned the distinction of graduating laude they rank at the top 10% of the class of 2018 Tierney Burke's Bailey redden hailey Fisher Matthew Schmidt Hannah Khan check james Bagby Sophie Rock and I'm Eastwood Alison Winkelmann Travis Allen Abigail Hobbs Robert stock grace Odom Rainey Scheidler Lana Downard Melanie Kulig anak Walden guardo knee Kevin shrum Skylar Kaler Sarah bussing Andrew Winckelmann Tyler Adams Emily Smith injure Nisha walls [Applause] islam i brahim Jeremy Agee Ryan Agni gage Geary Cameron Alan jameelah Alan ivory Anderson Spencer angleton Justin Araiza Jacob Michonne Kayla Austin Elizabeth I angel beachy Jackson Barger Jalen Barkley Connor Barton Nicole Bart's Garrett bass Caleb Bassett Michaela balsa Jared Beeman Joshua Bernard I brahim I'm Ahmed Bedouin Morgan Bell Roger Bennett [Applause] Jonathan Bertie Douglas Bessie Tyler Betts Drake Berkner Lindsay Bischoff Fey Blakeley Matthew listen back Allison bogan a milah bonds faith Boyd Charan Boyd Taylor Boyd Herman Bragg's the third diamond broad knacks Djem Isaac Brock Tony Brooks Alexis Brown the Shawn Brown Xavier brown Jack brooding Cody buck Kirsten Bunyan Brandon Burks page Burris Jacob Burton summer aya Bush Eden bus [Applause] Desiree bird treyvion bird Cassidy caliper Brendan call to Myra Callahan [Music] Kaneesha Carol Quarles [Applause] Yolanda Cartagena Lomond ray Carter Nigerian casein Stephan Caswell Antoine Celestine Darrell Chapman 2/3 [Music] Maria Chapman Bartley Jessica Charles [Music] Sanchez Sisneros Kaley Clayton Jenna coil Olivia Collins Brayden Connors Tammy cook Wade cook [Music] [Applause] Amy Corrales Shirley Crawford Dylan Crosson Courtney Cruz Adam Cruz Steven Cruz [Applause] amber Curtis AV cusamano's Stevens Luke Davidson Jacob Davis Kristin Davis Jay Davis racionais Davis Tiana Davis sir lothario Tabo Michael DS Renee Payton dens ur rehman Dewalt [Music] Ania Dickens Adrianna deets Abby gentlemen [Music] Lindsay dare Emily Donahue Alya Douglas Mason dubs Jada done Aaron awkward Natalie Eckrich Justin Edwards [Applause] Merrick Ellis Deshawn Emerson Braden Espinoza Emily feasel Mary Farrell Bryce Fisher jaslyne Fisher Logan Fisher Hannah Flanagan Kelsey Fleming crochet flowers Jordan faux Kurtz Veronica foot Kristin Ford Joshua 4e Delaney Foster [Applause] Jackson Forney Michaela Foxworth Alisa Frakes Jordan frost Scylla gage China Galloway Zachary gamblin Kaelin Gibbs Tyler Gibson Lance Glaser Kyla go leaner paws good Dariana Goodwin Jonathan Goodwin Darion green Cristian green [Applause] Lake gross hunter groupie Isabel guardian Heather Gunlock Andrew Hague Caitlin Haggerty Emily Hager Kimberly hegwood Candice common page Hampton Paul hung comer Alea Hardaway a Landis Harris Gabriel Harris Marcus Harris Haley Harrison Ian Haas Ct Hassan Annabel Hetal Felix Heitmann Alicia helm [Applause] Kamiya Henry Tanner Henry Stephen Hernandez Madison Hill Nile Hill Cole Michael Hill perd Jacob Hoffman Constance Solomon the Kayla Holloman [Applause] [Music] Taylor Holloway Denisha Holman gabriela homes Emily horn crystal Holly yet Taisha Hubert Brittney Huddleston [Applause] nickimja hues Megan Hundley William Hunter Jordan Hyatts Carl Jackson DeAndre Jackson nya J Jackson Kelsey Jolla Bay East and German Aaron Jefferson Kevin Jefferson Tatyana Jennings Evan Johnson I Keshia Johnson [Music] Jack Johnson Larry Johnson jr.
Jimmy good afternoon staff students and family members I am here to welcome you welcome all of you to a day that many of you will hold near and dear to your hearts to those of you sitting in front of me and to my right I am welcoming you to your first day of true freedom to the extent of federal law from here on view the individual will be the only one who decides what you do and when you do it your parents who once guided the vessel of your life will stand will no longer be the captain the helmsman or the wind in your sail your teachers who once stood as the greatest sources of knowledge and experience will stand aside as you take up your own mind and begin to use it for your own purposes some of you may be unprepared for the responsibilities of this level of freedom others among you will will embrace it but in the end you will all have to come to terms with it and a note here you have to come to term its terms with it has not as a member of a community but as an individual speaking of individuals you and I have grown up in a society that is afraid of the individual it is afraid because it cannot believe with all of its mass media mass production and mass transport that a single man or woman can make it on his own or her own to that fear I respond with a quote I say that man is entitled to his own happiness and that he must earn it on his own but that he cannot expect others to give up their lives for his happiness I borrow these words from ein Rand the author who created the philosophy of Objectivism they are the words of individualism and if you agree with them then these convictions may have taken shape in your mind you must never let your own values be usurped by the values of others you must never submit your will to the will of others and you must never sacrifice your happiness for the happiness of others I wanted to go more into depth on values and and happiness and I did so in a letter to a friend her first response was I didn't think it would be six pages long so I won't be getting into that tonight or today I should say to keep things short you the individual have a code of values your code of values defines everything you consider good and everything you call evil to describe things in terms of good or evil then is for the most part ambiguous after all what's good is subjective to your own code however I have found an objective value among all people that I've met one that they all all hold as good they all believe that what is good is what makes them as an individual happy that means of course that both people who celebrate the individual and people who would attack him are entitled to believe that they are doing the right thing I'm not saying that we should tolerate people who act like dictators on the contrary we must oppose them at every single point but an important note here you must never initiate force only respond to force only attack those who would try to control other people as a response to the initiation of force I am saying though that you the individual should give no sanction to anyone who would attempt to change your values when you meet someone who does not share your values your only choice is to agree to disagree but if you find someone who does share your values then you have found an ally one that could turn into a close friend a business partner or in some cases a love interest I've never attempted to change someone else's values whether there's agree with mine or not I do not wish to be a moral leader by trying to tell you what you should do with your future rather I offer only one advice you must as an individual find your own way to find happiness by your own standards and while I don't want to change your values I would like to show you with you a glimpse of my own and for that I would like to borrow some more words from Hein Rand in the name of the best within you do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst in the name of the values that keep you alive do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly the cowardly the mind lists in those who have never achieved his title do not lose your knowledge that man's proper estate is an upright posture an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads do not let your fire go out spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the approximate they're not quite there not yet they're not at all do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved but have never been able to reach check your Road and the nature of your battle the world you desire can be won it exists it's real it's possible it's yours now I would like to thank everyone here at this graduation thank you parents for providing stability in the childhood and adolescent lives of your students graduating and for facilitating independent thought to the extent that you were willing to allow Thank You teachers for tolerating us at our worst and for granting knowledge of the universe to us at our best thank you especially to all my AP teachers mr.