001e e e during the Cy I don't want to see br e think e e [Music] we [Music] h [Music] the [Music] l [Music] good morning everybody you may be seated [Music] my name is Lily boils and I'm thrilled to be your Master of Ceremonies this morning when I was first presented with the opportunity to speak here today in front of all of my peers I'll admit I was definitely a little bit intimidated but I figured what the heck it's an experience and as my favorite movie mam Mia says the best things in life the very best things happen unexpectedly this quote is a constant reminder that you can't control everything in life your future starts Once you walk out of here some of you already have jobs jobs and schools you'll be starting and
002some of you don't know what your life is going to look like tomorrow morning but I think we can all agree that growing up in Brown County has definitely set us up for Success exploring new ideas engaging with diverse perspectives and facing challenges that have tested us in numerous ways it's as if high school was our training for life as an adult and looking back at some of the best and worst moments of high school I think we can agree that nobody really saw them coming I think it's safe to say that the class of 2024 has had some of the most unexpected four years somebody can experience from blue and gold days to weeks of online school masks new schedules backpacks of his lockers and so much more this means we now have the
003freedom to explore the unknown and that's guaranteed to throw the unexpected at you I'm not saying you have to think about it but I'll always think about what experiences life may hold if you happen to take a chance and now I'd like to introduce our school board president Carol Bowen vice president Doug Payne secretary Vicki Harden board members Stephanie kitzer and Amy Oliver superintendent miss Emily Tracy director of student learning Mrs Debbie Harmon director of career connected learning Mrs Chris Christy writesman assistant principal Charles Hutchins and our principal Trent Austin at this time I would like to invite Aaron woodam to the podium to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance please voluntarily rise for saying a pledge of allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
004Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you you may be seated thank you Aaron Now ladies and Gentlemen please join me in welcoming our Brown County High School choirs as they perform do [Applause] oras for [Music] for for [Music] I [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] I aot I [Music] your [Music] [Applause] thank you class of 2024 today marks the first of many accomplishments we will each earn earn in our lives and I'm pleased to introduce four of our very own classmates that have something special to share with us before we receive our proof that we you know survived high school so first I would like to welcome Aubrey Harden to the stage with her speech live in the moment thank you um initially I didn't
005know what I wanted to say in my speech so I thought about all the lessons I have learned throughout the years and one that has always stuck out to me is living in the moment people get so caught up worrying about the future we forget to live in now we get so excited about one thing and focus on it until it happens this could be prom or going on vacation or playing in a rival game but then once that's over we focus on the next fun thing and then we forget that we the only moment that you're actually living is right now I'm in no way to say that we shouldn't have goals and Ambitions those are crucial to keep us moving forward through life but it's not about where we will be tomorrow where
006we will be where we were yesterday or where we will be in a month it's about where we are right now I used to think people were joking whenever they said that high school went by fast but yet here we are about ready to walk across the stage and graduate we went from celebrating our first to now experiencing our last our last time stepping on the field on the court on the track and on the stage for some of us it's our last time in Brown County soon all the people we went to high school with will become people we once knew we thank the people who've got us here today like our teachers who care more than we know and our parents who dealt with our attitudes on Long school days and for me
007my youth group leader Brook and we also want to thank our friends that are younger that we're going to have to leave behind I've learned so many lessons and sat through so many different classes and some I'll probably never use again but one thing I'll always remember is to live in the now and for the future graduate graduates soak up every moment because soon it'll be you up on this stage thank you thank you for your encouraging words Aubrey I feel like that was a very fitting message for this afternoon um next up please welcome cord Smith to the podium with his speech moving [Applause] forward greetings my fellow Americans firstly I want to thank my parents I wouldn't be here without them uh second I want to thank our school for uh letting the
008Old Joe's talk instead of just the smart kids so here I am am now some of you know me but most of you don't i' my name is C Smith I've gone to Brown County schools for my whole life I've competed in school sports uh since fourth grade and I've been a part of Eagle manufacturing for three years I've made several friends and if I'm being honest probably just as many enemies uh I've had a lot of great memories and I've had a lot of fun and after the course of two 18 years I've learned learned two big lessons first life isn't fair if you leave here today thinking that life is fair and treats everyone equally you're wrong everyone is blessed in this world but you can always find someone that has been blessed
009more or has more but if you don't experience this at some point in your life you're either not trying hard enough to succeed or you were handed a lot of money with that being said I'm open to donations there are ways of overcoming life's obstacles not in ways that will allow you to dodge them but in ways that will allow you to make the best outcome from them these tests that the world throws at us are are supposed to temporarily hold us back and when we overcome these setbacks is what defines our character the way we deal with struggles what makes us unique failure is supposed to is Life's greatest teacher and when we learn from these lessons is when we become successful this is why we must not be afraid of failing but take
010Life by the horns and accept failure as it comes because this is the process that leads us to to success this leads me to the second lesson I've learned live life to the fullest that means in your relationship your career your relationships and especially your free time there's a saying that you can sign you can find a sign a Jimmy John's restaurant says if you do what you need to do when you need to do it then someday you can do what you want to do when you want to do it when you clock into work work like your life depends on it through this you will find success when you're at school pay attention and learn through this you'll find Opportunities when you're with your loved ones love like there is no tomorrow through
011this you will find true happiness when you're enjoying your free time take the opportunity to explore outside your comfort zone through this you will find Adventure it is through these things that make a successful person growing up as a runner I've heard several motivational chants one being get uncomfortable getting uncomfortable is what separates the winners from the losers winners will do whatever it takes to win losers will only do what it what they want the second motivational CH is stay consistent success is found through hard work and consist consistency you can work one day a week and be lazy the other six and you will never be you will never see the outcome that you want to be successful and experience life to the fullness of life you must be consistent this applies to parts
012of your life that aren't sports for example work everyone has to work and nobody gets a high-paying job by being lazy this is why is a perfect example as to why showing up and working hard every day will lead is a door to giving you success so as you leave this room and go about your lives take advantage of every day given to you tomorrow is not promised and like the legendary Dean carzz once said the Bold don't live forever but the timid don't live at all congratulations to the class of 2024 and God bless America thank you very much C your enlightening words have definitely spoken wonders to all of us our next speaker from our graduating class is definitely one of the most sweet thoughtful people I've ever met Maris sder with her
013speech we made it sorry we made made it the day that we have been working towards our whole lives the goal we have been aiming for since the first day we stepped into the kindergarten classroom graduation is our celebration of how far we have come and how hard we have worked but it is also a day of giving thanks saying thank you for the teachers who have helped us get here to the parents who have got us up early for the bus and took us to school when we sometimes or maybe a lot miss the bus saying thank you to our Administration who have helped prepare every day for us and keep us safe but most importantly we have today to say thank you to our fellow graduates and friends to say thank you for
014so many memories for so many friendships for many laughs and maybe some tears saying thank you for studying over an exam or with help on homework and sometimes the answers too today is also to be thankful for your own hard work to reflect and look at how far you personally have come we all have a choice we have made so many choices over these years for example which classes we wanted to take what pathway we wanted to follow what clubs we wanted to join and so on but this past year we are making one of the most important choices of our lives and is also the beginning of more choices ahead we have all decided on what our plans are after high school or at least have an idea we have chosen what we want
015to do with our lives for a career we have chosen whether college is the right choice for us or whether it is entering into the workforce or even joining the military today my point is we still have today to make one final decision in our career high school career our choice is how are we going to leave today are we going to leave with smiles on our faces or tears rolling down our cheeks are we going to make the best of today and Savor the moment we have we're going to choose to make one more memory that will last a lifetime whatever we are deciding today tomorrow in the future make sure you don't regret it I want to end with a poem from Kimberly Reinhardt graduation is a time to remember and a time
016to dream a time to look back and a time to reach forward a time for songs of laughter and a time for Tears of Joy a time for letting go and a time for discovering hopes and dreams that are yet unborn sorry A Time to Say Goodbye and to yesterday and a time to greet tomorrow with courage a time for loving hearts to gather and a time to celebrate all that you are and all that you may become thank you thank you Marky finally ladies and gentlemen we have our 2024 prom King the one and only Connor Henderson with his speech graduation and how not to scream and [Applause] [Music] [Applause] cry well we're here as cliche as it is to acknowledge I think it's safe to say that this is a day that for
017many of us the weight of it still hasn't really hit had you asked us where we thought we would be today 17 years ago we likely would have said gooo Gaga but fast forward a little more to freshman year and not a person in this room could tell you what their graduation would be like for them for many of us I'm sure we look at our freshman themselves and go gross before remembering we were that gross little creature but here we are at the culmination of the last four years of high school in the eight years of schooling before that I'm sure we're all feeling massive range of emotions Joy sadness fear anxiety the feeling that you should have gone to the bathroom before the ceremony so on and so on above all though graduation
018symbolizes both the beginning and the end of massive changes for many of us this is the biggest change in our lives in the past 18 or so years we are about to go off on our own for the first time we are saying goodbye to a lot of people for the first time we are going to live with strangers our passions and dreams for the first time who want to be conflicted with their feelings like watching a horror movie with your friends it's terrifying but you're all in it together high school to me passed the exams the homework the drama the drama and even the drama is the place where we have grown the absolute most as people in our lives so far many of us especially in an area such as Brown County have
019more or less grown up together which I think can make it especially hard for us during graduation compared to larger schools I think the biggest fear for many of us in rightfully so is losing contact with the people that not only do we care about but if quite literally known for almost our entire lives that's a massive thing to lose of course the unfortunate reality is this will happen to some extent Even in our era of being more connected than ever there's no way to keep contact with everyone but you won't ever really lose these people as a species humans are always always reflecting off one another picking up little quirks and idiosyncrasies from our friends and those around us slaying different spellings different sayings all of these are in our popular culture because humans
020love to learn and take from one another that time someone corrected you on how to spell something you thought was spelled different for like eight years that time someone told you a stupid dad joke you can't get out of your head showed you a good poem a good book movie or song and now it's one of your favorites you'll carry those with you where communication and interaction may be gone these are the pieces that you will take with you wherever you go we are all culminations of the people in our lives the people we have lost befriended loved made extremely awkward eye contact with in the hallways without this we would not be whole we would be a two-piece jigsaw that could not find its other half we would be incomplete but because of high
021school because of the people we know the people we have yet to know we are better for it we are whole of course this doesn't make it any less sad or scary these relationships we have are special they are fragile like a grandma with her Fine China wrapped up in her attic we want to keep them safe to let them go is sad to let them go is scary but there is joy in it we got to have these experiences we got to know these people we got to make these memories we've had the absolute privilege to be here in the present moment to have cared to have loved to have lived and lost is tens of thousands of times times more wonderful than to have never had anything to lose at all but like
022a grandma with her China you can go upstairs and with a delicate touch you can unwrap these experiences you can hold them close and remember remember the time you spent here remember the people you cared for the people you talked to the people you listened to the tears you cried the laughter that echoed around you the frustration the joy the culmination of your growth the person you were the person you are and the person you want to be take it all in and carry it with you so that you may have it with you always carefully tucked away in a little box in your attic until the day you need it wrapped with care and warmth I cannot wait to see the people that we all become and I hope you choose to carry a
023piece of me with you in the words of the late Dr Seuss in his book oh the Places You'll Go kid you'll move mountains thank you thank you so much Connor next up I would like to welcome superintendent Tracy Emily Tracy to the podium to share a message with the class of 2024 [Applause] I'm not the superintendent I'm the principal let's give one more round of applause to our students good morning my name is Trent Austin I have I am the I have the honor of serving as the principal at Brown County high school today we are honoring the class of 2024 but before we honor these students I would like to take a moment to recognize all individuals who are serving have served or will serve in our military's Armed Forces along with any
024widows of veterans please stand so we can honor you I would also like to thank all Educators and support staff at Brown County schools for the service they provide for our students and Community please stand so we can honor you I would also like to thank parents relatives friends and anyone else in the audience who have helped make today possible for our graduates seniors today it's an opportunity for you to thank those people who have helped you get to this point all of these people are supporting and cheering for you as you make this next step in the Journey of Life graduates take a moment today or sometime this week to let each of these people know how much you appre appreciate them I would like to take a moment to celebrate the successes of
025this class of 2022 first of all we have 26 the class of 2024 we have 26 we have 26 students who have earned their academic honors diploma we have eight students who have earned Technical Honors we have five students whove earned both Technical Honors and academic honors we have 13 students who have earned Summa kumlade honors nine Magna kumlade and four four kumlade all of these students who have been mentioned as these honors please stand and be recognized [Applause] also in this class we have Conference champions we have a state qualifier in track we have academic All State Award winners we have all state Award winners in band and we have students who have performed at high levels in on the theatrical stage when I met these students eight years ago when they walked down
026walked in the doors of Brown County Intermediate School in fifth grade I knew knew they would do great things students you have not disappointed you have achieved great things and you will continue to achieve great things well now that I've shared all these successes let's talk about failure I value this quote from Helen Keller that says life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood as you enter what adults call the real world you are going going to have so many successes you're going to have so many wins but along the way you're also going to fall short you're going to make mistakes because they happen attempts to win will fall short but the good news failures are an opportunity to grow fail failures the opportunity to check yourself life is
027full of lessons that will help you become a better person tomorrow my favorite basketball player is Michael Jordan I absolutely love his quote about failure it reads I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career I've lost almost 300 games 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed I failed over and over and over again in life and that is why I succeed over the next 18 years of your life you have learned how to win but equally as important I hope that you've learned how to learn from failure because this is the foundation of the growth mindset a person's ability to improve through effort learning and persistence continue to develop your growth mindset life is Ever Changing walk forward take that next step create opportunities for yourself through work drive
028and determination you never know where life will lead what opportunities will present themselves never stop learning how to learn this mindset will open up doors of opportunity that you would have never thought would be possible class of 2024 on behalf of the faculty and staff at Brown County Schools we are so proud of you you will continue to do great things as you enter the world Beyond Brown County High School go with confidence that you are ready you are prepared go with the mindset of effort learning persistence persistence and courage congratulations seniors class of 2024 and now to the Brown County School Board of Trustees superintendent Emily Tracy and the Brown County School Community it is my pleasure to present the class of 2024 Mr Hutchins will you please come forward and announce the names
029of our graduating [Applause] class for for before we be begin we would like to take a moment to honor the memory of classmate Justin Lee scrogum as we do so please join me in a moment of silence thank you and now for the presentation of the class of 2024 lilyan Ruth voils [Applause] Aaron James woodam Aubrey Kora [Applause] Harden core Daniel [Music] Smith graduating sumacum Mary Suzanne sder graduating Suma kumlade Connor Olan Henderson Clayton Andrew [Applause] Austin graduating Suma kumlade Kaylee Olivia Austin [Applause] Leslie Alexia [Applause] Austin unable to join us today because of his commitment to the United States Army Ethan William Baker Thor Augustus Baldwin Olivia Marie [Applause] ball Charles Zachary Banta [Applause] Kiren and Marie Bartley Khloe Danielle Bay jayen Nicole Bennett [Applause] Wesley Edward bethards Brady Hugh Bond Joshua Angel bowling
030[Applause] Corbin Stratton brandom mateline Vil Browning graduating Suma kumlade Julia Jean Bert [Applause] Gavin McKai butcher Justin Drew Campbell Nicholas Steven Alexander Cooney aenda Joel [Applause] Cox Violet Elizabeth [Applause] Day Billy Wayne Decker Athena anola Nicole dowy [Applause] rain Emily [Applause] Drake Jacqueline Mary [Applause] Eastridge Michael Joy edin [Applause] Claire Marie [Applause] indis Dalton John [Applause] Fannon Andrew Allen fiser [Applause] kadence Nicole [Applause] Flynn Iris Renee [Applause] Ford Shelby Thomas [Applause] Elizabeth an Gibson Lorena de laus [Applause] Gonzalez graduating Suma kumlade Isabelle Katherine Irene Gordon Sawyer Woods [Applause] Gore Adeline Lynn Grier [Applause] kayn Noel [Applause] Harden Ali Lynn [Applause] hash Olivia Renee [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Hawkins Avery an Harold [Applause] Alia Marie [Applause] hayatt William Henry [Applause] hayatt Brooklyn Diane hawler [Applause] Matthew Kenneth [Applause] horn graduating Summa kumlade Braxton Bruce Huff graduating Suma
031kumlade mateline Grace Huff Alysa Joanne Johnson Ava Katherine Kelly graduating sumacumlade Cadence May km [Applause] Jonathan Allen [Applause] kofer Caleb Jacob canow Michael Edward cernick Elijah Morgan La surely Joe [Applause] leider Ashlin Leanne [Music] Mercer Mercedes rain Miller [Applause] Jona Michael [Applause] Nicholls Carter O'Neal norcut Jenna Lynn Patterson [Applause] Savannah Ray [Applause] polling Jacob Wesley Prairie graduating Suma kumlade Laura Sophia previt [Applause] Joseph Allen quen [Applause] Bush Hogan Dennis Roger [Applause] Reeves Merrick Matthew Reeves [Applause] Amberly Dawn [Applause] Roberts Emily Nicole [Applause] royalty Daniel Earl Russell [Applause] Brandon Clifford Robert [Music] saow Alex William Davis [Music] [Applause] Shel Alysa juel shider [Applause] Lily Marie Carol [Applause] shekels Reva Lucille sugars Jackson Thomas SE [Applause] Isaiah Andrew [Applause] cypes Darby Lane [Applause] sisen jayen Ray Smith [Applause] Robert Leon Smith Ariana Leanne [Applause] ston stacon Laura
032Joe Lane [Applause] Stinson anamarie K [Applause] stogel Skyler Wayne Stringer [Applause] graduating Suma kumlade Lindsay Kate [Applause] Summers Wyatt David [Applause] Sutter Serenity Luella Eevee Taylor [Applause] graduating Suma kumlade Joanna Marie Tipton Charles Vincent [Applause] Webb GR uating sumacumlade Elijah Cole web graduating Suma kumlade Eli Lane Westley Maddie Christine whdas [Applause] Drew Cole Wilkerson Kate an [Applause] Wilson Braxton Manuel Winton [Applause] Morgan Nicole [Applause] Woodall and Walkin Cedar zelner pace [Applause] now I would like to welcome superintendent Emily Tracy with a special message to share with the class of [Applause] 2024 ladies and gentlemen esteemed faculty proud parents and most importantly the remarkable graduating class of Brown County schools welcome to the 63rd graduation of Brown County High School in this incredibly beautiful venue I am so proud that we are beginning a tradition of
033Legacy for our graduates right here at the Brown County Music Center if this isn't nice I don't know what is this is a quote by distinguished author Kurt vaget he often used this phrase to remind people to notice and appreciate apprciate good moments in life it is a reflection of his broader philosophy of finding joy and gratitude in everyday experiences today is a day of celebration of reflection and anticipation As We Gather here to honor the achievements of each one of you I am filled with immense Pride you have persevered you have grown you have succeeded and now you stand at the threshold of a new chapter in your lives congratulations class of 2024 if this is a nice then what is our theme today is one that I hope will resonate with you not
034just in this moment but throughout your lives it is the pursuit of meaningful things not the pursuit of happiness that truly matters in the face of criticism and challenge es it is hard work that will guide you and if you stay true and choose a path to meaningful things you will find happiness in today's world where instant gratification often seems to be the ultimate goal it's easy to fall into the Trap of seeking happiness as an end in itself but I challenge you to think differently happiness as wonderful as it is is often a byproduct of something greater meaning meaningful Pursuits are those that align with your values your passions and the positive impact that you wish to have on this world think about the moments that have brought you the deepest satisfaction during your
035time at Brown County Schools perhaps it was opening night for Little Shop of Horrors maybe it was scoring that touchdown on homecoming night getting that paycheck from mainstream being the first and only apprenticeship for County Schools this year maybe helping a friend through a really hard time perhaps volunteering at Mother's cupboard or working tirelessly on a project that not only refle reflected your true interest but in fact was a real realization of your passion come Monday morning maybe just maybe it was giving that Ted Talk on this stage spreading that passion if this was a night I don't know what is in those moments did you stop and pause and appreciate all the hard work that led to those moments and if you didn't I've got really great news tomorrow's a new day it's tomorrow's
036the first day of your next Journey As you move forward into the world you will undoubtedly face criticism and challenges there will be times when your path seems unclear you may question whether the struggle is even worth it but it is in these moments that your commitment to meaningful Pursuits will be your Guiding Light remember the greatest achievements often come from our greatest challenges embrace them learn from them and let them fuel your journey stay true to yourself and your values as the world is filled with noise and distractions but if you keep your focus on what truly matters to you you'll find your way seek out the opportunities to make a difference whether they are big or small because every meaningful action contributes to a larger tapestry of purpose and fulfillment as you leave
037Brown County schools and venture out into the world carry this message with you it's not the pursuit of happiness that will lead you to the fulfilling life but the pursuit of meaningful things let your actions reflect your values let your hard work be your foundation and let your commitment to making a difference guide you in doing so you will not only find happiness but you will also create a life rich with purpose the future is yours to shape embrace the journey with courage with determination and a Relentless pursuit of meaning congratulations may your paths be filled with meaningful Endeavors and true happiness class of 2024 if this isn't nice then what is I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the people that have played a very pivotal role in your Pursuit
038and I want to thank you for choosing the challenge to the teachers and in entire staff at Brown County Schools thank you thank you for your dedication your commitment and your unwavering love and support for these students over the years to the Brown County School Board of Trustees thank you for your charge to ensure the vision for Brown County Schools is simply the best of the best thank you for allowing our staff to create world-class opportunities and to strengthen the small school relationships for our students as it is those those very experiences that will carry the impact for future generations and to our families thank you for entrusting us to walk alongside your child through their journey of life and to you students thank you for writing the 2024 chapter of Brown County Schools thank
039you I think it's time to make this official senior student speakers will you please join at the front of the stage all students please rise graduates it is my honor to confer your graduation upon you at this time please turn your tassel [Applause] congratulations yep [Music] la [Music] yeah are