001you [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
002administration assistant superintendent for administrative services dr. Jim Smith deputy superintendent and chief financial officer mr. 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
003I'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. Oliveira for showing us that
004physics 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
005we 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. Scott mrs. Straub sunyata rookie and mr. Croker as the sole reasons for my
006survival 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
007someone 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
008to 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
009out 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
010as 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
011very 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
012to 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
013outside 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. Jimmy good afternoon staff students
014and 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
015may 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
016expect 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
017a 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
018force 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
019as 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
020hopeless 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. faculty is Eliseo mrs. Webber to
021Smith mrs. Lummis miss McWhorter mrs. Paulin mrs. Schmidt and mr. rude for preparing me and my peers for the next stages in our education their classes that I've been told can be even heart harder than their college-level equivalent I would also like to thank the administrators and counselors for helping us students meet all the requirements to graduate apply to college and settle conflicts in the school thank you to the district 20 administrators for allowing me and similar students to choice into district 20 schools my education would have been very different if I wasn't allowed to change schools when I did finally thank you to my peers for welcoming me into your community and supporting me part of my success both academic and personal is thanks to you you helped me keep my sanity in the
022most stressful situations and you gave me a place to stand when I cleared my obstacles so long class of 2018 we meet we may meet again someday [Applause] [Music] something we are those who have to grow [Music] let me say [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] I do believe I have been changed for the better [Music] you [Applause] a long-standing graduation tradition at Liberty High School is the selection of the commencement speaker the keynote the selection is a competitive one and from the many who try out only one can be selected for this honor this year is no exception the committee made up of seniors and teachers chose a young lady who has an inspiring message to share with all of you today ladies and gentlemen please welcome
023Tessa McKinney [Applause] before Tess gives her address I'd like to tell you a little bit about her Tess is the proud daughter of Martha McKinney and is a district 20 lifer spending her entire education career in district 20 she attended Explorer elementary school Timber View middle school and all four years at Liberty Tess is active at Liberty through her involvement in the National Honor Society French National Honor Society French club the boys basketball manager theater and student council serving as a student body president outside of school tests likes playing with puppies watching the office reading and eating in the fall tests will go to the University of Colorado Boulder where she plans to major in biology her creations may include acting being an ob/gyn or a teacher test you have a bright future ahead of
024you and we're all very proud of your accomplishments thus far congratulations so now I give you test McKinney good afternoon everyone and namaste welcome to our friends and family those who have held our hands as we have grown welcome to mr. timox staff members and administrators those who have worked day and night for our success welcome members of the Academy district 20 school board and superintendent dr. Mark Hackel he is the giver of snow days welcome honored guests of Liberty High School but most importantly welcome to the graduating class of 2018 because this really is all about you flashback to when it all started kindergarten we made our first friends we learned how to spell and count but most importantly we learned how to nap like champions then a few years past and fourth grade
025rolls around remember when we traded silly bands on the playground when we got calluses on our hands from the monkey bars and ultimately when we turned ten double digits I mean we were practically adults at that point then middle school came and we learned what real freedom was passing periods lockers school dances and our first cell phones school was confusing relationships were complicated and vine consumed our lives but we made it through and on the high school freshman year the seniors were terrifying we had to navigate through what seemed like thousands of other students and suddenly the future started creeping into our decision making junior year we were finally upperclassmen powderpuff prom the SAT going off campus for lunch and being so close to graduating finally senior year arrived the first day was amazing but
026every day since then has been in never-ending countdown senioritis did come a little early this year but coffee and attendance waivers got us through when we finally turned 18 the reality of adulthood was terrifying yet thrilling but here we are and over these last 18 years as we were changing the world was changing too technology advanced lives could be changed with a click of a button through the rampant spread of social media we've all felt what it's like to be afraid to come to school because of threats that were made to us yet we've recognized and celebrated love in all of its forms we felt the pain of people across the world who were affected by natural disasters and war we stood up for what we believed in and we kneeled for what we believed
027in we lost people who we looked up to but records were broken and barriers were crossed we've been brought together by hope and sometimes we've even been torn apart by our differences but still we remain and still we persevere today we are graduates tomorrow we will be the politicians the Olympians the scientists the entrepreneurs the doctors the Warriors and the teachers we are about to explode upon the world and we are the ones with the imagination and the drive that it takes to shape the future of our dreams our cars will drive themselves and our world will expand to different planets but our enemy will always be complacency for it is not the lion's roar that signals danger it is the silence so I ask you to never be silent enjoy this accomplishment now for
028tomorrow our real work begins congratulations you [Applause] my name is Caleb Wilbur and I have the distinct honor of introducing the district 20 superintendent of the year dr. hatch 'el though many of us know him as the giver of snow days however maybe slacking a bit this year many of you may not know that it is his responsibility to make sure that 35 schools run smoothly and he is in charge of over 3,000 Academy district 20 staff he has been our superintendent for 11 consecutive years before he was our superintendent he was a teacher assistant principal as well as a principal and a superintendent of another district being an educator must run in the family because his mother was a teacher and his father was an administrator dr. hatch o has been invested in making
029Liberty High School the best it can be part of that was letting his two daughters play field hockey for liberty the best school in district 20 he also goes to at least one Liberty baseball game per year but as anybody who has ever been up there would agree it's way too windy unlike his wife who saves lives as a medical doctor he helps change them as an educational doctor thank you for all you do for Liberty High School ladies and gentlemen dr. Hatcher [Applause] thank you to to Caleb seniors I'm sorry I tried to call a snow day this year 17 years I think the first time I haven't have not called a snow day in Liberty High School is a great school I always enjoy coming to there and I I appreciate the kind
030introduction this fall I was at back-to-school night with with my kids and my son Blake introduced me and my wife to his teacher and he said and this is my wife excuse me this is my mom and she's the real doctor so how long remember them let me first say on behalf of my bosses the Board of Education congratulations to the class of 2018 I also want to personally thank Jennifer Van Buren who has served on my student advisory committee for the past two years Jen you represented Liberty well and we will miss you so thank you now I remember four years ago I was at the top of the stairs for the annual Liberty freshmen clap in I remember seeing so many of you that day and I try to do it every year
031it's amazing because there's probably about 10 or 12 of you that I know out there and I'd say you know hi Kathy hi Ryan and all of you be like didn't want me to know that you were coming in Academy School District is on an incredible roll and seniors you have been a big part of that we are proud of you and we will miss you and I must say is superintendent I've never had more fun than this year with all the new schools being built all the additions of school renovations remodels redesigns and you would believe you would not believe all this coming to Liberty High School I was a high school principal for five years this is my 17th year as a superintendent so this is my 22nd year of getting graduation speeches
032averaging five or six a year I have to say I've probably given over 100 of these but I have to say this year is different this year is different because my daughters are graduating from high school this year and I am proud to say they played field hockey right here at Liberty High School now I clearly remember 12 years ago giving a graduation speech at a ceremony just like this one insane parents I know a little how you feel my daughters are graduating from kindergarten well parents 12 years from now I know exactly how you feel seniors during your time in school there have been two tragic events in our area the Waldo Canyon fire and of course the black forest fire there's also been some fun and interesting things that have happened in our
033district where we had a school bus break down in the corner of Academy Boulevard and Union by the air academy Federal Credit Union down there we called our towing company that we always use they hooked up the bus and they took it to our transportation center when the mechanics came over and started to work on it they noticed that on the side of the bus it said Colorado Springs district 11 we took the wrong bus I called the district 11 superintendent to apologize he said he was called out of a meeting and told someone was stealing their bus but not to worry they were tracking the thieves on GPS right back to Academy 20 I remember asking some elementary students for advice for seniors I could give it their graduation a third grade student is
034Chinook Trail his advice was if you want something really expensive ask your grandparents now Evan at da Vinci for seniors his advice was don't call anyone over 30 a goat they won't know what it means so Tess at the senior breakfast when you introduce me as the goat I had three people explained to me it wasn't a bad thing it's not a bad thing and Ryan from Explorer this is my favorite he said never ever root for Navy Nebraska or the Oakland Raiders this summer is my 40th class reunion for high school it's amazing how time flies my class the class in 1978 has a surgeon who specializes in arthroscopic surgery on shoulders my class has a person who was convicted of murder that made headlines statewide my class the class of 78 has a
035number 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 spending 15 to 20 years for a terrible crime my class the class of 78 has teachers nurses a pastor a pilot a professional musician 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 are racing with excitement and anticipation your parents are remembering they're remembering their special time 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
036as 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 and your cat graduation cap and gown but most of all they are 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 have 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 rewards on behalf Academy district 20 and its nearly 30,000 staff and stew I wish upon each of you all the good fortune in the world god bless
037[Applause] you [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Music] [Applause] you how about one more hand for our choir and band today dr. Haskell and members of the district 20 school board it is an honor to present to you the Liberty High School graduating class of 2018 and to certify to you that every graduate who walks across the stage today and who is presented a diploma as they leave today has at minimum met the requirements established by the Academy school district 20 Board of Education ladies and gentlemen let me tell you a little bit about this amazing class of 2018 all 418 of them they are a very tight knit a very tight knit group and their friendships extend beyond the typical social groups they kicked off the school year with an event called the senior sunrise in
038which they arrived on the first day of school as the Sun was rising to welcome the school year as a class they then concluded the school year with a senior sunset and a walk down memory lane through Prairie Hills Elementary School timber View middle school and liberty as they said goodbye as a class to their high school career but before we as a staff say our goodbyes it is important for everyone in this arena and around the world to know what a special class this is first this class is very very bright as of last week this senior class has earned over 10 million dollars in college scholarships we have three Air Force Academy appointments one Naval Academy appointment one Air Force Academy prep school appointment one Navy prep school appointment for Air Force ROTC
039scholars two Army ROTC scholars 13 AP scholars 6 AP scholars with honors and 1 AP Scholar with distinction this class also has eight National Merit commended students one National Merit Scholar one National Hispanic scholar one Daniel's fund scholar one better scholars finalist and one better scholar [Applause] we have to Cosette's best and brightest 21 who have earned the order of the crest recognition and 157 members of this class are graduating with honors or high honors and over 80% of this class will be heading to post-secondary institutions in the fall a group of these seniors who were in AP Physics this year had a once-in-a-lifetime experience of skyping with astronaut mark VandeHei while he was on the International Space Station they also got to be in a Mission Control Center in Denver for the Atlas 5
040rocket launch and received VIP tours of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in April the students who attended told me it was a life-changing experience and one of the seniors has aspirations to be a part of the first crew to launch to Mars our seniors worked hard this year and whether they earned those final credits last semester or last week they all put in a valiant effort so they could sit before you today so please thank them for that [Applause] going beyond the classroom let's talk about athletics we have 20 national letter of intent signees who plan to play sports in college we have 10 teams who qualified for academic all-state and our girls field hockey team was awarded the Colorado academic all-state team championship for the fall we are the league champions in boys
041golf had state qualifiers qualifiers in boys and girls golf volleyball girls and boys basketball girls swimming and boys and girls track our girls and boys basketball teams set school records with each team winning 18 games in the regular season our boys basketball team went to the sweet 16 for the first time in 5a competition and one of our boys players scored over a thousand points in his high school career additionally our boys basketball coach was recognized as the color springs Metro leagues coach of the year we have numerous other all league all-state players and a number of senior rotary champion nominees including two rotary champions our girls track team has been on fire this season winning a number of team championships and breaking school records in fact a few of our boys and girls track
042seniors are representing Liberty at the state beat today and in fact one is already just started running just a little after 1 o'clock today all of these have been amazing accomplishments but what really stands out about our athletes is how they give back to the community all teams are involved in community service projects raining from ranging from cleaning parks and community areas to mentoring and tutoring to partnering with charities and community groups to provide donations and assistance this is what truly defines a student-athlete now let's move on to activities our talented seniors are also amazing in that realm as well we've had award-winning visual arts students and our FBLA and deca students qualified for state and national competitions our student council who is recognized as a national gold student council of excellence helped to lead
043a huge run fun raising campaign for local charities which resulted in donations of over $10,000 to the community and under the direction of the National Honor Society a group a number of groups raised over eleven thousand five hundred dollars for the make-a-wish foundation to help send a local child and her family to Disneyland our performing arts program was amazing again this year our theater department entered a competition called the Bobby G Awards and received four nominations our dance program performed at a competition in California earlier this year our chamber singers were invited to perform at the prestigious Music for all national festival and Indianapolis and we had students who are selected for Allstate choir jazz band orchestra and band now you may already know this but I am so proud of our amazing students that
044we have at Liberty they have represented the Lancer nation with class and honor and they and it's them and the phenomenal staff are the reason why Liberty High School is one of the best high schools not only in Colorado Springs but in Colorado so congratulations class of 2018 let's give them a round of applause [Applause] before you depart his graduates and enter the world as a 30th class of Liberty alumni I would like to take advantage of this time to address you one last time as your principal I was thinking of what I wanted to talk to you about should it be about the fact that you were the first high school graduating class that was born in this century and scary Glee they didn't think we would actually get to 2,000 because they were
045afraid that the computer clocks would not be able to turn over from 1999 to 2000 maybe I should talk to you about the advances in the world and that you're gonna be a part of including missions to other planets cars that drive themselves and modes of transportation that will get you from Colorado Springs to Denver in under 10 minutes and avoid Tomah Road altogether or maybe I should share with you my thoughts about the importance of going into the world with trust in confidence but after the last four years of interacting with you I've decided that that I must make a sad confession to all of you I really don't understand you now please don't be offended by this confession I tell you this in hopes that you will be able to bridge the gap
046between your generation and my generation parents I'm taking this opportunity to speak on your behalf as well a public service announcement if you will what I don't understand about you is the communication lingo I know it's hard to believe but I am old and it makes it difficult for me to learn especially on the spot what you're saying when you speak to me in slang acronyms and initialisms hieroglyphics and selfies I'm sure you don't even think about it but remember that in the future you will be working with people from my generation and clear correspondence will be really helpful if you want to build those strong professional relationships so let me give you a few examples of what I'm talking about let's start with slang like when a kid tells me hey mr. t those
047new kicks you're sporting or off-the-chain the interpretation is the students like the new shoes I'm wearing but I didn't get a chance to say thanks because I didn't know what that phrase meant instead the student got a bill wildered look for me on my face when I said okay that too is probably not the reaction they were looking for I don't want you walking away thinking I wasn't appreciative of the compliment I just didn't know what in the world you were saying to me sadly I had to go to one of my younger teachers and ask for the interpretation let's move to acronyms it's been mentioned a few times already today but earlier this year my son told me mr Chambers is the goat while we were heading home from school when I was talking
048to him about our basketball team I thought that maybe I misunderstood him so I let it go but I thought to myself that comment wasn't very nice then walking through the hallways I heard other students referencing people as goats there were even arguments about who was the greatest goat Payton Manning or Tom Brady Michael Jordan or LeBron James still others were talking of their own teachers being the goat as well when it came to registering for classes next year finally someone let me know that the goat really means greatest of all time kids it'd be nice to know that up front and how about initialisms or what you call texting shortcuts BFF rofl ttyl y ou L o or Yolo and lol for example when I first received these in a text message my response
049was simply hu H huh I told both of my kids who are now in high school in college not to text me unless they spell the words out so I know what they're saying but it's not just in texting anymore now you actually say it in emails and in person for example when I was finally conned into writing the big swing on our high ropes course and I was hoisted all the way up in the air and I was trying to tell the kids to let me write back down nice and easy one kid yelled Yolo mr. t now release the button I did finally release the button after crying for a little while and when I got safely back to the ground I asked the kid what does Yolo mean he says he says
050it means you only live once maybe I'm glad I did not know that before I release the button or I might still be up there today and let's talk about hieroglyphics or what you call emojis there's an old adage that says a picture is worth a thousand words I don't think that means the same for emojis just when I think I might understand one a new one pops up that doesn't mean what I thought it meant here let me show you a couple of examples of when I received from my daughter while this whole emoji thing first came out mind you when she texted me this emoji there were no words no acronyms no initialisms or anything else that included that were included that text message just the emoji I got this one okay which
051I understood means she's happy and I like that okay and then I received this one which told me that she was sad and then I received this one that I thought meant that she likes chocolate soft swirl ice cream only to be followed up a couple minutes with one of these which I interpreted was fried ice cream obviously the last two emojis were not what I thought they were and apparently there is no emoji for smiling chocolate soft-serve ice cream all I'm saying to you guys is maybe you should text words to your parents so that it clears up a lot of confusion because my thing was when she sent those when she sends me these my response was YUM finally what is with all the messages about selfies I see it all the time
052in hallways sitting at the lunch table and even at my own house but not by me from the best I can tell taking pictures of yourself with the following expressions means I'm going to a party on Saturday and I need to bring chips and salsa so class of 2018 while I am joking with you a bit my serious message to you is to be clear in your language with those of you that that you will be working with you will work with people from all generations and if you want to be valued and understood please speak the language that all generations can understand now speaking thank you speaking of the effective use of language for the last few years at graduation I have shared a quote from hip-hop artist Drake which I think sums up
053about everything for leading a happy and productive life his quote states live without pretending love without depending listen without defending and speak without offending class of 2018 I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished thus far in your lives on behalf of the entire staff of the Lancer nation we wish you nothing but that up at the best mr. LaValley I proudly certify the graduates of 2018 and present them to you for your acceptance on behalf of the school board thank you [Applause] on behalf of the Board of Education of Academy school district 20 I accept with pride and pleasure the 2018 graduating class of Liberty High School mr. Tim ik thank you thank you your faculty and your staff for an outstanding job [Applause] Jr attendance we already lists graduate
054this class [Applause] you Shawna's Hussein a book I dear [Music] Hayley brandi marie hollers he sourah Clarissa Adan Kyle ah da Alexander Devin Anthony L dos Diana larae Anderson Adriana Kennedy a Makonnen Omari Joseph Anderson Megan Lillian Anderson Tristan Gregory Arnold Michaela and and cliff Danielle Nicole Ashton Alexandra Daniele out - so Maya Renee Austin Keegan James Alden John Chambers Ayers v may see Brooke Aves Zachary Thomas balls Felicia K bacon Colin Riley Barbie graduating with honors Seth Alden Baker Ashley Diane beard graduating with honors Trent Russell Barlow Abigail Madison the dead [Applause] graduating with high honors Jake Tyler Becker Amanda Helen be him Emily Marie Biermann Cody Evan Murano Tristan James Barrens Annalise Irene Ben yes mean we did bail and Malia Leal been Brennan Eugene Binford graduating with high honors Cagney Alexandra bird
055Ryan Christopher Benitez Brogan Robert bishop got you Reagan Elizabeth Mascaro Kyle James Bose Leske graduated with high honors Ryan Metzger block Shawn Thomas Bossert graduating with high honors Valerie Angelina or Ludi Jordan Taylor Bovie graduated with high honors William Thomas Boswell Antonio Nicholas Boing's [Music] Victoria Marie Bowman Justin Peter Paul brianza graduating with high honors Kaitlin Lee rag Mikayla J Browne graduating with honors Blake Jeffrey Clifford Brisbane Noah Ashton Brubaker Troy Roland Brown Abigail grace burns graduating with high honors Abby Shing Shing Bullard [Music] graduating with high honors Emma Suzanne Busby Jacob Douglas burns graduating with high honors Angela Marie Calhoun Emily Danielle Bustos Seth Richard Canfield Jack Jean Calloway the second graduating with high honors Sarah Margaret Carol Mackenzie faith Carroll graduating with honors Mikayla joy Chandan a Ryan Franklin gates fun Alberto Chavez
056graduating with honors Gillian Abigail Charlton graduating with honors Jae hun gun graduating with honors Morgan Elizabeth child's Cameron Frank Clemente graduating with high honors Reagan Marie Clark McKenna Isabella Cofer graduating with honors Martin Newton Clift graduating with honors McKenzie Alexandra Colby graduated with honors Taylor Matthew coffee graduating with high honors Derek Edward Collins Tristan Robert Collier graduating with honors Jack Jacob Lee cook Sean Michael convoy Jason Jermaine Copeland jr. Maxwell Ezreal cook katie marie Cornelius Haley Rose Court Haley Bryn Crawford Maria Lynn Crandall Beatrice Anna Marie Croix Toro Paige Renee Crespo Malhar Sanae Davis Ian Lucas Cully graduating with honors Brendan Patrick Deane graduating with high honors Leticia Susanna Decker Martinez graduating with honors Julia and des heart graduating with honors Julian Marcus DeSimone graduating with high honors Andrew Charles dr. William flexure Dixie graduating
057with honors Erin Jacob Dumas mosa mill illallah Doria graduating with honors Carson Rose Dunkley Riley Brighton deulim Pierce Patrick angle Ken's graduating with high honors generally page done Yin [Music] graduating with honors Jaden Avery Feldman graduating with high honors Connor Charles Eli Samuel Harman farik Bridget and Fairbanks graduating with honors Spencer Joseph flood tailee Callay Michelle Belton graduating with honors Karissa Danielle Foster Trey Wesley fine graduating with high honors Adrian Irene frisbee [Music] Alexis Brianna forest Smith graduating with high honors Alicia Michelle gama's storm Madison Haley rose Garcia graduating with high honors Sarah Louise Gaines Olivia Danielle garrison Haley Nicole Gann graduating with honors Megan rose gilang graduating with high honors Kennedy and Garn heart graduating with high honors Naya t'lani jia ling go Samuel Marcus yeska page Nicole Gill and Austin James Genova Skylar
058Eleanor Gillespie Xavier McKinley George Anna Elizabeth goldstein Kylie Mar Shan gladden Nikolas Lee Gossage graduated with high honors Riley Elise Gordon Nadia Samara green Eliza Whitney green Sierra Raquel Griswold graduating with honor Alana Helene Gregory Lisa Maria Guerra Perez Sydney Elise gross Jacob Michael Gutierrez Madison Mary Eleanor Guthrie graduating with high honors Shay - Rin Hagler Peyton Elise act Trevor Darin Halverson Elijah pain Hall Matthew Jacob Hamilton Annina Francis Murray hem deed graduating with honors Brandon Nathaniel Hanson graduating with honors Carson Murray Beth hamster graduating with honors Madison Elaine harms graduated with honors Shelby Danielle Hardy graduating with high honors Alexis jade Harris Sierra Rose Herald graduating with high honors Andrew Scott Haskett graduated with high honors Brooklyn Ruth Harvey [Music] Megan Renee Hernandez Ryan Hinds heimer [Applause] graduating with honors Rosemarie and Hill Josiah
059Anthony Herrera Lucas Alexander in men graduated with honors Joshua Warren Hogan Maximilian Nolan in men Cheyenne Alyssa hub graduating with honors Gabriel Nicole wait Kyle Bailey Husted graduating with honors jennifer marie her win graduated with honors Emily and Irwin graduating with high honors Amman August Johnson Ashley Christina Jenkins graduating with high honors shayanna Dorothy CagA rice Taylor Irene Johnson [Music] Nathan Mitchell coughs Cameron Michael Carr graduating with honors Madison Katherine Keithley serenity and Kaufman Jared Martin Cal graduating with high honors Ellie Madeline keel Braden Eric Kircher gotcha Josh graduated with high honors Carly Tate Kelsey Joshua Luke climb graduated with honors nikhyl pearl Kirkus Justin Paul clink Michael David Klein Grayson Anthony Cal Reagan may nap graduating with high honors Anika Claire Cray Mayer graduating with high honors Nicholas James Kozar Meredith Audrey Kurtz Jada
060Marie Kunze Nicholas William Lancaster Benjamin Allen Lake and Elise Olivia letona amber Lauren lard noise Austin James Lauritzen Cameron Alexander Lattimore Cameron Matthew Lee Ryan Andrew lavallee graduating with high honors tracin read Leishman Troy Anthony Sanderson leg Lydia grace laser Julia Kathleen Lewis Matthew Ryan lively [Music] graduating with high honors Marissa Rachel Lincoln Bailey and long Anna fei-long graduating with honors Igor he of gonna Lucan Melia Nicole Lopez graduating with honors Reed Christian Magnussen graduating with high honors Jada Julie lion Daniela Maldonado graduating with high honors Sean Garrett to Maine Elisha Leigh Martinez Marc Anthony Maldonado Crespo [Music] broker rain Mavs adine graduating with high honors Makayla aundrea Mason Hayden Andrew John May Hannah Ruth may Eli Cody mcbroom graduating with high honors Isabella Noel McArdle Brendan Michael mcillhenny graduating with honors Olivia faithful McCreary
061graduating with high honors Megan Eileen McGinnis graduating with high honors Emily Marie McFadden Zachary Tyler McKinney Benjamin Andrew MacGuffin graduating with high honors lauren elizabeth Malachor Sarah Irene Meyer graduating with high honors Kenneth ray Messer graduating with honors Shawn Michael Mellinger Alexia and Meyer Trevor Ryan Mestas graduating with honors Lydia and Mihaly Sarah and Meyer Rebecca Joe Miller Spencer Andrew miles [Music] graduating with honors Caitlin Amyris mole Steven Wallace Mitchell graduating with honors Aubry Taylor Montreal McKenna Marie Montez graduating with honors Andrew James more graduating with honors Amanda grace more graduating with honors Kira Denise Morrison graduating with high honors Gregory Paul Morgan Jr Michaela Brooke Murdoch Zachary Brice Kahala my Akua Murata Stephen Kyle Nelms Stephen Casey Myers Theresa Chun no Kaley Elizabeth Newton Devon Dontrelle Nicholson Kevin Lee Nichols ibrahim mahmoud hassan noir
062Kyle Joseph Nichols Dallas Rose O'Halloran Manor Ryan Phillip O'Connell graduating with honors Emily Lauren Alette graduating with high honors Alexis Sophia Oh Grimm Michael Richard Pabst graduating with honors Wyatt Kenneth Owen graduating with honors Sydney Christine Palmer graduating with high honors Kylie summer Palmer David John passier graduating with honors Lila Mae Parnell graduating with high honors Savannah Jane peak Olivia Victoria Payne [Music] Tyrese Jamal peppers Declan that Joseph Pelletier Brianna K Perry Eric Anthony Perez graduating with honors Christine we not fam Steven James petty graduating with honors Josiah Timothy Plata [Music] janessa Leilani Pingree Sayla Kathleen Plattner graduating with high honors Jessica Lisa blends Jared Lee price Jessica Gail Powell Lee Ann Marie Podolski Luke Jamison price Devon Tobias Quinton on graduating with honors Nathaniel Ryan P Roth graduating with honors Devon Barbara Ramos Jackson
063Dimitra rail Madison Jade Ragland Lorelei Rose rail Dorne Alexander ramp Oberg graduating with honors Emily June rainy pageant graduating with honors Daniel Allen rice graduating with high honors Joshua Dean Reinhart graduating with honors Audrey Diana Richter Victoria grace Richardson Genesis Rose Rivera Angela Nadine Revis Brooke Elizabeth Roberts Brianna Sarah Robbins Claire Elizabeth Robertson Meredith Cristina Roberts Rachel Leigh Rogers katherine marie Rogers Aiden James Romero graduating with honors Bailey Lynn Rawlings [Music] Colton James rule Oh Douglas Riley salute Zachary Thaddeus Rose angka graduating with honors Rachel Marie Rothenberg destiny love Saldivar graduating with high honors Ashley Wilder Rowley graduating with honors Helen and Marie Sanabria Michael Salazar jr. graduating with honors Emma Elizabeth Santoni graduating with high honors Riley Andrew Sanders graduating with high honors Isaac Anthony Savoy graduating with honors McKenna shell sour Jade Bailey
064Schubert Glaser [Applause] Emily grace shade Connor Gregory Sexton Clayton Perry's Scott [Music] graduating with honors grace Catherine shaver graduating with high honors Brandon Thomas Shaughnessy graduating with high honors Morgan and Sibley [Music] Austin David Shelton Madison Nona silver Zachary Michael Siffin graduating with honors Luke Thomas Simmons K Bobby Simmons [Music] graduating with honors Jack Thomas Skinner Shawn Thomas sinkhole ah graduating with honors Shelby and Smith Noah John slider Caleb Andre Sorrell graduating with honors Matthew Solomon Kevin Michael stupids [Music] graduating with honors Megan Nicole Souls graduating with honors Dylan James straddling graduating with honors Simran Nicole Stoke Alicia gene Stuart Gabriela Anderson straumann Katherine Elizabeth Taylor Garrett Sanford Sucher graduating with honors Seeley Rachel terrassa Alexander Paul Tann Technic graduating with honors Nicholas Tillman Townsend Riley Shay Thompson Griffin just way savouring Tron Isaac Allen
065treat Callum John Tillich Ryan James Tucker Hunter Steve Lamanna graduating with high honors Vanessa James total Dakota Wade Van Alen Dustin Lane Valentine graduating with high honors Alissa Allison Marie van Milligan graduating with honors Jordan Lynn Valentine graduating with honors Sierra Nicole Vaught graduating with honors Lisa Renee Vasquez Noah Lee Villalpando graduating with high honors tre Joseph Venters tre Jonathan James vigil Savannah Nieves V Hill graduating with honors Alec Joseph Wallen graduating with honors Sadie Ellen bossman graduating with high honors Taylor Jane Watson graduating with honors Kyla McKenzie Waguespack Jared Duane Webber Jason Takashi waters Grayson Andrew Wells Tyler Jackson wha Taryn amber Wells Graceland Lee Welch graduating with high honors Sarah Kay Wedeman Landry Hudson wells graduating with honors David Justin white Ingrid when under palmas Brianna K Wiley graduating with honors Hannah Prue
066Whaley Anastasia Michelle Wilkinson Jacob Andrew Whitson [Music] graduating with honors Connor James Woodard Sarah Jean Wilker Trey Devon Ian Jimenez Brandon Lee Williams graduating with honors ELISA Michelle Yost Michael Jeffrey Wilson Anthony Mercer Zuniga hope Elizabeth woody Ryan Michael extent [Music] graduating with high honors Kylie faith Yeats Takaya Dane Hester graduating with high honors Wendy you call Justin Klein Adam hey soos Jerez Joseph Sanchez Alexis hope Mercado Collin Raye Simmental Xavier Michael Lee's Melchor [Music] Dawson Christian Callaway Abraham Haro Cruz graduating with high honors Tess Kathleen McKinney graduating with honors Riley Michele newcomer Caleb Stephen Obert graduating with honors Cecilia grace urban graduating with high honors Jennifer Rachel Van Buren graduating with high honors Thomas Allen Williams graduating with high honors Jennifer Kathryn Yates [Music] [Applause] maybe no check all right let's hear for the
067class of [Applause] well ladies and gentlemen is my pleasure to introduce Liberty High School's valedictorian please welcome Jennifer Yates Jennie is the daughter of Brian and Tracey Yates she too is a district 20 lifer she attended Academy international elementary mountain Ridge Middle School rampart High School and then the sweet land of liberty the last three years at Liberty Jenny is a member of Lancer strong the National Honor Society and deca serving as its chapter president during her high school career she was able to obtain an impressive 4.7 to 92 grade point average not bad although I too also obtained a four point seven two nine two grade point average when I added by Bachelor high school and graduate degree together so but I digress in the fall Jennie will attend the University of Notre Dame
068where she will major in mechanical engineering with a biomedical miner jenny has had four hip surgeries in high school so her career aspirations are to be a biomedical engineer specifically interested in tissue regeneration and joint replacement so she can have a significant impact on the lives of others via her own experiences yes Jennifer in recognition of your valiant efforts at Liberty High School I hereby award you with this Val Victorian medal these gentlemen Jennifer Yates good afternoon everyone I know we're all anxious to officially be Liberty alumni and I'm the only thing that's standing in the way of tassel turn in time with mr. t so I'll try to keep this short and sweet I was born in Indiana a few short miles from the International Motor Speedway home to the greatest spectacle and racing
069the Indy 500 which is to be held in just ten days from now since kindergarten we've been racing to graduate especially in these last few months when senioritis really kicked in so I thought it'd be fitting to compare our time to this historic race just like the cars in the race we as students have felt immense pressure crashed and hit the wall and ran low on fuel a couple of times because of these situations it is impossible to finish the Indy 500 without making numerous pit stops along the way your pit crew is made up of those that have given you unwavering support encouragement and guidance along your journey class of 2018 look around you you are surrounded by the biggest and best pit crew in the entire world at this time on behalf of
070the graduates I would like to once again thank dr. superintendent dr. mark Achille Academy Schools district 20 administration and Board of Education Liberty High School administration and faculty friends family and all of the incredible teachers that we've had these last few years thank you for steering us in the right direction and keeping us on track throughout our high school career we need to always maintain our pit crew because as we all know we will experience numerous obstacles throughout life despite these setbacks and challenges that you may face I hope that you always continue to persevere after all the caution flag and erase signals drivers to slow down not to stop completely apart from the race moving at a slower pace in life allows us to savor some of life's most beautiful treasures making memories learning
071lessons reaching milestones and of course graduating now once the caution flag is lifted we put the pedal to the metal and race towards our finish line often we equate the finish line with popular ideals of success I have no doubt that everyone in this class will achieve some measure of success but I challenge you to make sure that your own definition of success goes hand-in-hand with significance and not just wealth power prestige Fame or a high number of likes on your Instagram photo be charitable be brave lend a hand make someone smile and always treat others with dignity and respect let's be fast and furious in our pursuit of being good humans finding a cure for cancer creating a peaceful world and ending discrimination I'm proud to say that our own Liberty 500 race is
072ending today in a 418 person tie regardless of if we zoomed coasted or had to be towed by administration across the finish line at the end we're all headed on different paths in life but our class will always have a special bond so let me close with the most meaningful part of our senior song cuz baby there ain't no mountain high enough there ain't no Valley low enough ain't no River wide enough to keep me from getting to you babe if you need me call me no matter where you are no matter how far and with that ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2018 start your engines because your next race is about to begin congratulations [Applause] at this time I will invite our valiant staff to depart to the tunnels for the seniors
073final farewell before you depart as graduates I want you to know that I left something in each of your graduation envelopes as a piece of advice that I've been giving out to graduates for the past 26 years and has printed on a business card it was essentially the same piece of advice given to me when I graduated from college the bottom line is to live with no regrets and to make every moment count I also hope that my small token of appreciation will help be a key to your own future with that Lancers please rise turn your tassels from right to left to signify your new status of graduates [Applause] congratulations you are dismissed [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Music] you