001[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hey [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] good afternoon and welcome to stafford field for the class 2022 graduation before we get started i want to recognize a group of people who helped with this today it's awesome we can be outside blue skies great weather we're a long way from the gym so when you thank our custodians lisa madden and her crew here and steve houston transportation maintenance for getting this set up for us so we can enjoy this for the students and the families outside here let's give them a round of applause please and again
002this is a great atmosphere for our students i want to give them a big round of applause to start this off so let's get it going for them okay let's say this is a celebration of their students and you their families it's a community event and i have a pleasure to introduce our first two speakers it will be laurel knight our salutatorian and jenna bailey our valedictorian laurel stardusto [Applause] i have always found it interesting that the word kindergarten means children's garden it is fitting that this preliminary class the beginning of your education is known as a garden a place to nurture and care for learning really each classroom we've been a part of throughout our school career has been a different garden filled with unique experiences and environments that helped us grow as seniors
003it is easy to long for the kindness of that very first garden the nap time the snack time the extra long recess these seem so nice compared to the stressful high school experience we have all just undergone the projects exams the worldwide pandemic that confined our education to a screen these may have felt like a bitter winter in garden terms the sort of environment that requires grit and perseverance in order to survive yet by sitting here today ready to walk across the stage and complete our journey each and every one of you has proved that you can thrive in any classroom you have shown tremendous growth but beyond this it is important to realize that what you planted in that kinder garden what has prospered and blossomed as you grew through the school system those
004seeds belong to you we all have an extraordinary capacity for learning it has been nurtured or challenged by various teachers and courses over the years but that desire to long to learn came from within us we were born with an innate drive to learn as two-year-olds we would lick the sand off our hands at the beach or recite obnoxious songs from annoying tv shows we naturally questioned experimented and curiously approached our world while we may have become better scientists by sitting in chemistry or biology lecture halls or fine-tuned our questioning by decoding literature in english class those skills came pre-programmed into our budding brains we were each able to succeed because we started with this seed you may be questioning why you are hearing about the start of your education at a ceremony to congratulate
005its end to that i would say i am glad that you're still questioning our ability to learn existed long before we started our first day of school and it will exist long after we complete our last our curiosity inquiry and skills of discovery are human not tied to the structures of formal education we will leave east high school but our capacity for learning will not be left behind we can search out knowledge in every new experience of our adult lives we can make the world our new classroom continuing to learn without the confines of a class may look different but the opportunities are countless instead of using its learning we can use instagram to discover new perspectives instead of completing worksheets or papers like those we just sent flying into the air we can fly
006ourselves to new communities and cultures across the globe instead of collaborating through group projects we can collaborate with future co-workers and create our future families to truly learn more about ourselves instead of learning for the sake of a grade we can learn through the investigation of whatever ignites our interest or by simply being curious and i know we can all continue to learn even without the support of our school because i've witnessed so many of us do this already we have grown our character alongside teammates at practice we have gained insight by volunteering and helping those in need we have even taken advisory or resource time to learn valuable lessons with our friends sometimes outside of the classroom we have learned more at times when there is no curriculum mistakes friends memories that will last
007a lifetime these are sometimes the greatest teachers as we move beyond east high school we will always have experiences and relationships that can help us grow your cultivated mind the flora that formed from the seeds you planted in kindergarten and that has been nurtured within the various classrooms of your education is ready to move beyond the garden of east high school to all the teachers mentors and family that have cultivated us over the years thank you for your love and support but as we leave as we migrate beyond the comfortable soil that best encourages us to grow our pursuit of learning may be riddled with hardship we may be tempted to stop learning without easy access to the nutrients that feed our mind the overwhelming foreign environment of our future may make us want to
008wilt even so never stop learning as the brilliant young minds we all are today it is our job to adapt to each novel environment and challenge ourselves to seek knowledge each day as our roots and branches grow beyond the classrooms of east continue to nurture your mind so that it can truly flourish blossom and add to the beauty of the world thank you class of 2022 good afternoon family friends faculty and fellow graduates it is a great honor to be standing in front of you today i would like to start by thanking my parents along with all of the parents and guardians that drove us to and from school stayed up late to help with projects and work tirelessly to help provide us with a better life i would also like to say thank you
009to the entire staff of east for teaching advising and helping us through some of the yardest years so far of our lives because of our parents guardians and staff we have finally made it we are about to graduate and leave to go our own separate ways i can confidently say that we have learned the skills necessary to succeed in the world each year of school brought change to us freshman year we were the new fish in the sea of students walking the halls as we finally started to figure out our way through school the year came to an end with new friends acting a little older and a little wiser sophomore year brought more change the first three quarters we owned high school we were no longer the youngest we now acted like we knew
010what we were doing and made sure everyone knew it the biggest change came when no one expected it it started out as a longer spring break something every kid dreams of but it turned into something that we would never forget we lost the fourth quarter of our sophomore year leaving us at home watching videos trying to learn while wondering what the future of school would look like well junior year came more changes occurred we started out in person at school wearing masks it was strange but we all got used to it as the year progressed just as we thought things were going back to normal we moved back to online schooling after thanksgiving break third quarter brought even more change hybrid schooling i don't know how everyone's experience was but i had a hard time
011coming twice a week and trying to learn on my own at home fourth quarter junior year we finally went back to school four times full time it was difficult at first but we got used to it and finally finished out the year in a new kind of normal fashion this year brought even more change after a year and a half of the world feeling like it was at a standstill we were able to get back to normal we were finally seniors at the top of the school this year we've gotten to go to school every day and are now allowed to go to school without masks we have witnessed the pandemic full circle our high school experience has been unlike any other filled with new obstacles every day high school has been a four year
012journey our hard work and dedication to the programs that each of us love have contributed to the success of us graduating at east we have been exposed to ap dual credit and advanced courses that have allowed us to get a step up on college some of us have taken advantage of the c4 programs offered at both high schools these programs have given some certifications that will allow us to go into the workforce with a better understanding of our fields others have been involved in sports and clubs that have taught them valuable lessons in leadership and teamwork i along with others was involved in the performing arts program i participated in any band i could and enjoyed band class every day mr rogers and mr berkshire made every class entertaining and educational i learned several real
013world skills through band possibly even more than other classes taught me east has prepared us to go into the college the military the workforce or whatever future may lie ahead through classes and activities like the c4 pathways clubs sports performing arts and all of our senior projects this year we've learned valuable lessons that have prepared us for what we may face in the future we've learned how to navigate stressful situations while keeping our composure and to expect the unexpected while being flexible during these unknown times of coven our four years of high school may have been interrupted by copen but we have still learned a lot allowing us to go out into the world better prepared i have enjoyed our years together a lot has changed over the past four years we may not have
014had four full years of normal high school but we did get four full years of memories and stories that we will share forever as such we have learned along with the faculty how to learn on our own while at home and how to focus when there are several distractions around these are all valuable real world skills that are needed after high school now as we leave our east home we embark on the future and change in our life change is not always easy but it is a part of life embrace the change live every moment as if it were your last if there's someone that you've been wanting to say something to say it you might not get the opportunity again if there's something that you've been wanting to do do it there's no time
015like the present keep in touch with those that you love and continue making memories remember the good times and all the lessons that we have learned here as author c s lewis once wrote there are far far better things ahead than any we leave behind so i say to you look forward to the future and the change it brings congratulations class of 2022 we made it [Applause] all right thank you laurel and jenna for your words wisdom and advice before i introduce this class to dr roberts i'd like to make a few comments first to community we are all working together to support each student that you see in front of us graduating today we thank you for your teamwork and support in helping your student achieve this milestone this is celebration not only for
016the graduates but for all of us this is a great day and secondly to our graduates one of my favorite parts of education is getting to know students in their stores each and every one of you has one your own unique success story that now includes graduating high school you persevered you stepped up met the challenge and we're here to celebrate your story you've invested the hard work time energy along with having the support of your families friends and teachers to be in the position you are now as you get ready take this next step in life i encourage you be true to yourself appreciate people for who they are you are an individual and you are valued for who you are believe in yourself stay persistent there will be ups and downs in life
017stay focused on your goals do not be afraid to reach out and ask for help we are stronger together take time to listen to others and be there for them it is something we can all do and it is a great way to take care of others it will help to make world a better place for all you all have a blank page for you as you begin the next chapter in your life story make the most of your opportunities as you are the author of your life i'm sad and excited at the same time as i'll miss seeing you in the hallways at east but i'm also happy for you to start your new adventure i'm looking forward to see where you and those adventures lead you i'd also encourage you to take a
018page from laurel and jenna's speeches and be inspired to continue writing your own unique success story we're all watching we're excited for you we're here to support you as you take next step in the world of opportunities that lie before you it's been my privilege to serve as your principal for the past four years i'll leave you with the fact that you always be olympian and to take care and carry on o's dr roberts gives me great pride and pleasure to present to you the class of 2022 good afternoon family members friends and staff members thank you for all you have done to support our graduates as they navigated themselves through the rapids of a twisting river that places them in this location here today as graduates of columbus east high school graduates congratulations to
019you for the abilities you have displayed during your entire school career but especially during these challenging last three school years to successfully sell over under and through the rough waters placed before you your perseverance earns you the title of graduate columbus east high school as i reflect on these last three school years it is you your graduating class that i believe had to demonstrate the most resilience to end up in the seat in which you are currently sitting your sophomore year ended abruptly your junior year included a combination of in-person and virtual learning your senior year although in person for each of our scheduled instructional days was still affected by covet 19 related challenges four years of high school and only one your freshman year that can truly be considered normal at least from the
020perspective of what we all used to consider normal now that you are here in that seat now that you have completed one journey now that you have prepared yourself for the future what is the future for you what does come next are you just going to settle for whatever it is that comes next or are you allowing yourself to dream and if so do you have a plan to accomplish that dream i referenced rapids river and rough waters in my opening comments it was a setup a setup so that i could quote from an amazing philosopher and author of one of my favorite literary pieces garth brooks the river you know a dream is like a river ever changing as it flows and a dreamers just a vessel that must follow where it goes as
021you look to tomorrow and the hope that is there your dream is a river and you are the vessel that chases it too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away to what we put off until tomorrow has now become today was a tomorrow not too long ago it is hard to understand now but time goes quickly your parents and grandparents will attest to that soon tomorrow whatever that is for you the start of your dream job completion of your dream post-secondary opportunity marriage to your dream person the birth of your dream children some other dream that demonstrates success just like today will be today i will sell my vessel till the river runs dry like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky i'll never reach my destination if
022i never try dream dream big and then try like heck to achieve it all of you have demonstrated that you have it in you on behalf of all of our 2000 staff members in our corporation we are proud of what you have accomplished today and know that you will accomplish much more when tomorrow becomes today members of the columbus east class of by the power vested in me by the state of indiana and our bartholomew consolidated school corporation board of trustees i hereby certify you as graduates of our school system congratulations [Applause] [Music] bye [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] grace catherine wilsey payton alexandra meyer olivia pauline maggie rose abshire addison mckenna allman adrian alvarez corbin l arnholt stella jewell arnhold kaden michael atkins autolina a austin dalton a heirs ethan daniel ball zoe lynn barnes
023father haley elizabeth barr noah patrick batten leanna renee baxter meredith grace bean jeffrey scott blands amelia page blighton sarah kyleen boggs cody lee bowling tegan r brannaman [Music] david david cayden brand spencer grant bright ariana a brindle jessica janna brown trinity brown paige rochelle brown alyssa pearl scroggin gracie lynn brady [Applause] tia latrice brown to kyra lachey brown ryan andrew buckler olivia page bickel tyler m bumbleo joshua anthony burns hayley ann burton brianna camacho celia camonero sarmiento aiden patrick campbell danielle s campbell emma madeline campbell yadira canales alexa marie canine caitlin page carruthers ethan a chambers logan ashton christophel christopher chaz chumley brandon michael clark calvin keith clark ethan james clark macy elizabeth coors colin walker cornett reese kenneth cowan trevor l cowan martin alexander cox brendan michael critney mason cole darnell wyatt dean doherty
024ariel janelle davis colleen fay davis devon leroyce davis nathan j day taylor cheyenne deaton joseph t deckard wyatt l dooley gianna emea douglas denton l duncan jaden wayne dernald jackson eakin corbin p east caitlyn june easterling calista rose easterling gavin r edgecombe [Applause] caroline ann emmerich eli l eubanks hannah pauline fields mason sea fields john pierce fife reece brian fisher caden gale alberto galindo sanchez kevin galindo sanchez harley jalen gant estrella garcia maria christina garcia ivan garcia riley nicole gaskill kedron mckenna gaston kaylee g gizek samantha kate gilbert cadence lynn gilly adelpho p gonzalez grant d good night elizabeth ellen marie gray kerrigan e great house [Music] sydney marie green corrine rose grivy denise guzman gonzalez aaliyah cherie hall allison allison l austin j hanlo michael ryan haley [Applause] [Music] carly page harris cadence caden
025scott harris gwenevere l hartley ashton b hartwell haley marie hashman corbin t hatcher jacob hedger joseph t hefner derek e heidemann caitlyn elaine heilman hallie rose herbert samuel hernandez simon tyler j hurdle shayla ann hibbs henry h ho jason h ho sarah elizabeth hockersmith sophia grace haney rose marie hudak jenna helene hudson william k humes [Music] lee dean huntington [Applause] ethan p ianni diamond michelle einley mackenzie a jax isa cortez jackson trinity may jesse jessica marie johnston serenity christine jones treyton andrew jones [Applause] [Music] katie marie jordan carina juarez lake evan kasher rory elizabeth kelly trevor r kennedy kylene ray kibbler alexis rose kiniger kade a kaiken doll brody t kirkland jeremiah thomas coolman so jocelyn lies diaz k e law abigail c law childress corey m lakins destiny o lewis emily jade lewis anthony
026n lloyd kaylin ray lockhart isabel p long harley may low ashlynn r lucas joshua michael ludicky elizabeth lunabrink noah williams nekeisha a madison harrison john major quinton p marquess kristen rose martinez lauren elizabeth mays alexander j mccomb elena luanne mcneely connor braden meek delaney denise milburn carissa a miller kirsten nicole catherine ann millwood samantha page monk reagan lane mount zoe v mouty alyssa n murray dylan m murray [Music] olivia elizabeth myers jay austin neshe alexis renee newsom skyler richard nichols kendall ann nickerson samuel dillon niece emici p almost said logan wyatt orozco murphy emily caitlin ostrom emma lee parker malachi nathaniel pearson jaden michael peake vincent m perkinson emma may perry alexa marie pike zoe a plumber eli r elizabeth r prophet kaylee m pruitt christopher t quisenberry jennica a ramirez sophia elizabeth ramirez chloe
027elizabeth ramsey [Applause] [Music] holly cheyenne reed maitland m reese ronald d reed brooklyn s richards savannah jade richardson william david reekers ann marie rising cali danielle ritter john michael rivas kim mason roark tanner meilani roberts kiki talia rodriguez [Music] isaiah octavius roebuck katie romero weston lane romine tyler james ross juan a juan a ruiz tapia mallory kate rupp charles andrew russell aaron thomas sadler melissa santana [Applause] juvie santiago rosas carrie christine sagalski jesse j schreyer charles j shooty celia elizabeth shooty carly alexis shaw caroline elizabeth shelton rachel lee shelton joshua w sherwick mackenzie l sigmund garrett j simpson jordan michaela sims [Music] julia elaine sitterding samuel david skidmore elizabeth ann smith kathleen marie sodell albany gail speer jordan mackenzie spurgeon viva srinivasan megan may stackhouse tristan l statler ella grace stevens lilia noel stidham [Music]
028michelle jacinda michelle stillebauer jaylee page stillebauer haley nicole stuckey john michael talkington christian tolby ashley grace thomason braden douglas thompson ella juliet thompson chesney lee totten trinity l troja aaron nicole tyler lauren grace ulrich ty matthew uphouse emma e van epps emma l van ice julia delai vasquez benitez taylor elizabeth vettito andre andrea jasmine vigelon partida trice m villarreal cameron shane wade shelley pearl wade samantha lynn weghorst alexa and weisner savannah marie wells stella rose west [Applause] nathan l wetzrak jacob allen whipper dawson william white emma may white rhys caroline whitehead eliza grace whiteside anthony d williams ember lynn wilson kenton michael wilson nathaniel marcus lee wilson chayton t r wise sydney taylor wise dathan paul wolff elizabeth walter israel jordan de brown raggs taylor elizabeth young page alyssa rachel lee bella rosalind cruz harley
029autumn [Applause] and now it's up mcintyre [Applause] is each year the graduating class leaves a gift behind for the benefit of columbus east high school the class of 2022 student assembly has chosen to honor the memory of lilly streevil who tragically passed away at the beginning of the school year we are gifting this school with a memorial planter of lily's in the front office of columbus east high school to keep her in the forefront of our minds let us take a moment of silence to remember lily today we ring the senior bell to symbolize four fundamental virtues loyalty honesty respect and unselfishness these honorable qualities should be guiding principles as we encounter obstacles in our future the first of these is loyalty loyalty is devotion whether to yourself your friends or your country president wilson
030reminds us that loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice out of loyalty flows honesty respect and unselfishness it has been said that honesty is the cornerstone of all success without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist today signifies a cornerstone in our lives without honesty we cannot move forward from this cornerstone to the next without confidence and with confidence and the ability to perform honesty is also a necessary component in gaining respect respect is a virtue we hope to gain in our lifetime but as albert einstein points out it is not until we respect ourselves that we can gain the esteem of others or rather only then will it come in its own accord we must learn to respect ourselves for who we are so
031we may inspire others to do the same [Music] to put another's life in front of your own is to excel in the only game that matters the game of life it has been said that the true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good unselfishness is the virtue that ties human character together today we have reached the stage in our lives that allows us to enter the real world with a good conscience we signify the completion of this stage in our lives by the turning of our tassels which represents a movement from childhood to adulthood from high school to a world beyond will you please join me in the turning of our tassel [Applause] [Music] um the whole like garden thing it was so good [Applause] i
032apologize 149. wow