001[Applause] I'm ask oh yes that's working same go to the job for for you [Music] you're [Music] why do we have to stand up [Music] shortly [Music] love you let's go [Music] you guys [Music] the opp [Music] what is it [Music] right here [Music] rep help [Music] please remain standing gentlemen remove your caps and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all please remain standing and at this time let us pause for a moment of silence to remember our classmates who are not here with us tonight now please remain standing for a [Music] prayer let us pray dear heavenly father I thank you today I
002thank you for all the people here whom you've placed in our lives to grow with for this building we have cherished so many memories in for the administration and staff you have set in place to give us the leadership and guidance we need every step of the way Lord you have been with us and now I pray that your holy spirit will come now upon this place and that when we leave Lord you will go with us to wherever we go amen you may be seated [Music] good evening I am senior class president Aiden tle and on behalf of bluon high school I would like to welcome you to the graduation commencement of the class of 2024 this day that has seemed years away for so long has finally arrived as we continue through the
003ceremony tonight take a moment to appreciate how far we've come as a class since our early days as kindergart ERS to our wild days of middle school and through the past four years of high school we have grown up together 13 years of friendships hardships and mentorships and now we are here I would like to thank a few people now starting with our teachers thank you for your long dedicated hours of building us up so that we can grow pouring into us with knowledge and love in hopes of that we one day would take what you've given us and accomplish great Deeds I would like to thank the families and friends of the students without you we would not be here today the support you have given us through our school careers has allowed us
004to accomplish what we never thought we was possible as I look out into the crowd I see so many people who have loved supported and brought up the class of 2024 and for that I thank you for all you have done peers families friends staff and school board members we are all here to celebrate our accomplishments that hold their roots from so long ago together we have learned laughed and lamented from kindergarten to where we are at this current moment we have been together as a class and now we must go our own ways to seek the path destined for each of us thank you [Music] greetings fellow students friends family faculty staff and school board members welcome to the graduation of the class of 2024 congratulations to the fellow graduates as you have officially
005completed the last 4 years of your high school career for some of of us will be going off to college others will be serving in the military and finally some of us will be going straight to the workforce I wish the best of luck for you and your future endeavors during this year I've heard a saying that will probably stay with me for a very long time to come that saying would be GM o or gmob some of you may be wondering what language I have just spoken but I assure you that it was English uh this saying I have heard comes from one of our head golf coaches this year as he said it straight from the first practice gmob stands for get my opportunity back when playing golf many people realize that you
006cannot go back and redo a stroke or a hole but it it does not matter just if you redo that stroke or a hole it's that you recover from that last disappointing [Music] shot you simply just need to shake off that last shot and move ahead the class of 2024 present a challenge to you whenever uh in life whenever an opportunity slips away from you rebound that next day and strive find a new opportunity that you can strive for one common saying in life is that life is not a straight line there are Hills and Valleys most people when they're living in the Hills they're living life to the fullest but when The Valleys comes they get bogged down and lose the happiness in life to that I say look as it is something different
007I propose that life is more like a roller coaster as you go up the Steep incline you are thrilled the adrenaline starts to pump once you reach the peak and you are looking at the drop the that is the point when people get scared the same occurs in life but just like the roller coaster that drop doesn't take long the climb back up is next as well with the roller coaster there will always be people around you the roller coaster does not just have one card there are numerous cards those cards are filled with your families and friends with all that being said in life you are uh in life you are not alone during this roller coaster that we call life this roller coaster at bluon high school has come to a stop now
008it is time for each of us to venture to the next R of Our Lives May you look forward to the next incline enjoy the view thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] w [Music] you gave me sunlight when all I could see was Darkness you lifted me up so I can see the beauty the beauty in the distance a sky builds from all my h of what I could be what could I be I was wondering didn't want to believe that I was lost I was going to s that way no matter but now the water so much blew up I felt the sun long I broke free out of the darkness a Skyline that seems to back me a yearning to be free do I Want to Be Free yes I want to be free
009I got I got on your posi you change my change when you me [Music] and I'll take a part of you with me so some small way I'll never feel your Tempo in my heart be yes take of you with some small way on thank you for the Catch and Release the catch the C the C [Applause] good evening family friends teachers mentors School staff School Board administrators coaches and of course the class of 2024 my name is CLA Cad and I stand before you as the 2024 co- valedictorian it is a privilege and honor to be here tonight and have the opportunity to share my heart and gratitude first and foremost I would like to acknowledge my thankfulness to my Lord God for giving me my gifts and talents and for leading me through
010the trials and tribulations of this life I also can't express enough thanks to my family for the love and support that enabled me to arrive in this position my parents Jason and Gwen continually teach me and guide me through being Godly examples also thank you to my siblings for keeping me humble being my Uber drivers and making me laugh to my friends teammates and classmates I am extremely thank grateful for the joy and companionship you have added to my journey and thank you to bluffton's elementary middle and high school for employing excellent teachers coaches and School staff who have all encouraged and influenced me without this tight-knit community filled with these individuals we would not be equipped to move forward to the next adventure on behalf of the class of 2024 we sincerely thank you
011for your investment in our lives when thinking of a topic that would benefit each of you it became distinct to me to share where new graduates can find true Direction moving forward Proverbs 3 3-6 says let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you bind them around your neck write them on the tablet of your heart so you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths I want to encourage each of you to live by the concepts in these Verses first have love even when there is a college professor a cooworker or a boss that seems out to get you show them
012love turn the other cheek and treat them with kindness in the end God will reward you for loving others as yourself also having faith is a powerful asset in your journey through life Faith is often defined as believing without seeing but if you look around the room at each of these souls or at creation it is hard not to see the Lord's handiwork each one of us has been created purposefully and if you can't see that look around again Solomon a king of ancient Israel and the writer of this proverb tells us that when we bind the power of love and faith to our hearts we will accomplish SE success and favor in God's and men's eyes the next calling is to trust in the Lord when you are unsure what the future may bring
013lay it before God and let him guide you the Lord knows you fully and made you wonderfully so he is knowledgeable and capable to give you the desires of your heart however this comes with trusting in his power and leaning on him as your rock allow the Lord to open the doors to Opportunities and have an open mind and heart to the path he wants you to follow if indecisiveness and doubt creep into your mind I encourage you that spending time with him through prayer and meditation will give you comfort he will make your path straight if you follow him closely in closing I would like to thank you all for being here to support the class of 2024 and I wish you leave here with the drive to have love faith and trust my
014hope is that each of you will feel valuable and confident in your god-given purpose thank you and congrats to the graduates for accomplishing the Milestone of graduation [Applause] [Music] good evening graduating class of 2024 you know it's always fascinating to walk the hallways after seniors have departed to see what has been left behind every year our custodians find some pretty interesting items left in the lockers now I know some of your graduates are saying hey Mr Baker I did not leave anything behind at bluon high school well I'd have to disagree with that every single one of you left your mark on this school the Mark May Vary but you all left something behind just like the 141 graduating classes before you and just like the dozens and dozens of graduating classes that will follow
015you you it's called a legacy what is a legacy simply put it is something you leave behind a former first lady once said we have the responsibility to live up to the legacy of those who came before us by doing all that we can to help those who come after us personally I think those people who came before you can be your teachers your family members or even past bluon high school graduates we have three special guests here this evening to share a little bit of their legacy with you these guests are all bluon high school graduates from 20 years ago 61 years ago and from our first graduating class 142 years ago our first guest is Kevin Daly a 2004 BHS graduate and an uncle to one of our graduates here tonight although Kevin
016wrote this article 20 years ago to his fellow classmates I believe his message could have been written for this graduating class as well this is what Kevin Left Behind as you leave this stage of your life you take memories lessons and experiences that will mold the rest of your life on your path of life you will take many different routes to fulfill your purpose you will find that purpose in serving something higher than yourself or in serving others that is where your joy will lie wherever you find your purpose pursue it with your whole heart mind and soul and then make it a great life or not the choice is yours thank you Kevin that was in the senior Comet from 2004 now let's go back 61 years our next guest Jerry Murray is a
0171963 graduate of bluon high school we are honored to have with us a gentleman who has served the students and staff of bluon high school for 38 years Mr Murray has a few words of advice for us tonight with the help of author Todd ganger it's called advice for the graduate from a wise Janitor Mr Murray choose to impraise struggles every trial you face is an opportunity for growth choose to exceed expectations give your best and opportunity will follow choose to grow find good maners mentors seek honest feedback and guard your heart your input always affects your [Applause] [Music] output thank you Mr Murray now let's go back 142 years to the first graduating class of bluon high school someone from the class of 1883 is here tonight to share some wisdom with you all
018right I confess no one from the class of 1883 is here tonight but I believe their legacy is you see those first nine graduates pav the way for you to be here tonight if you remember I introduced you to them during your freshman orientation 4 years ago in our cafetorium and I shared with you what they did after they graduated from Blu in high school and if you remember just a few days ago we all visited the rock out front and those nine names are on a plaque to commemorate the first graduating class of bluon high school I admit I don't know what their advice would be if they were here tonight but maybe it would be what they learned instead good old-fashioned lessons like that have stood the test of time like being kind
019is more important than being right people are more important than things character counts and Family Matters and finally believe in something bigger than yourself in just a few minutes you will walk out these doors and into your future just like the 141 graduating classes did before you to help you unlock those doors waiting for you under your seat seat is a present for you tonight go ahead I'll wait may have to pull hard no it is not a key to the city I couldn't get that for you but this is not just any key this special key is to the door that over 11,000 400 bluon high school graduates have walked through before you you have been handed a legacy that started 141 years ago it is now your responsibility to continue that Legacy of
020tradition and Excellence for generations to come take this key as you create your own legacy how do you want to be remembered in 20 years 61 years or even 142 years from now I encourage you to think about it because knowing how you want to be remembered in the future helps you decide how to live today John Gordon says it best he says the best Legacy you can leave is not some valuable possession but rather a world that has been impacted and touched by your presence your joy and your positive actions well the good news is you're graduating from one of the best high schools in the state of Indiana our school has been named a fourstar school five times in the last 15 years this is the highest award given by the Indiana Department
021of Education our district also earned the Excellence in leading and learning award from the Indiana Department of Education this past fall bhmsd was the only School District out of 286 districts in the state of Indiana to earn this award this year also bluon high school has received the status of performance qualified High School this award is because of you and your performance over the past four years bluon High School is recognized as one of the top high schools in the state of Indiana thanks to you [Applause] graduates of 2024 I want you to know that it has been an honor to be your principal I am proud of each and every one of you and I want you to know that I believe in you four years ago this group of seniors met with me
022in the cafetorium as they began their High School career on that day we all committed to each other that every single student who spent four years at bluon high school would graduate together on this night they signed the pledge that is represented on the banner behind me graduating class of 2024 congratulations you made it thank you for honoring your commitment 100% of you that signed and stayed with us for four years are here [Applause] [Music] tonight it has been said that it takes a village to raise a child well that's true that it must take a village of Educators to prepare a student for this special day will the staff of Blu and Harrison Elementary School please stand and remain standing will the bluon will the staff of bluon Harrison Middle School please stand will
023the staff of bluon high school please stand will all past bluon high school graduates please stand and finally will the parents of the graduating class of 2024 please stand thank you you may be seated I want to personally thank you the partners in education for your dedication hard work and commitment in helping the class of 2024 successfully complete their high school education you did make a difference thank you Dr Brad Gates board members Bruce Holland Mike Murray Angie sheets Julie Thompson and Trent white it is my pleasure to certify that the class of 2024 has completed all the requirements for graduation that's prescribed by the state of Indiana and the Blu and Harrison Board of school trustees at this time the class of 2024 should be presented their diplomas graduates on behalf of the faculty
024and staff I want to congratulate all of you and wish you well in your future endeavors guests of the night of of guests of the class of 2024 if I could speak to you for a moment please it has become a tradition that the commencement exercises at bluon high school be conducted in a manner in which both the graduates and their guests can be proud this Pride can be shown by refraining from any actions such as yelling or other inappropriate noises while the seniors are receiving their diplomas which will distract from the Dignity of this commencement program the students have agreed to this expectation and I am asking the adult the adults to do the same as well we want to acknowledge each student equally for their accomplishments and ask that the audience wait until
025all students have received their diplomas before congratulating the graduates of 2024 we will all celebrate together when they've all gone through thank you for honoring this request will the Row first row of the graduating class of 2024 please rise and come forward for your diplomas Claire Denise craige head Aiden Von tle Kylie Jane frager Juan Manuel Cruz Sophia Rebecca Schwarz Olivia Louis shriber Cura Leanne Bradford Kenneth Michael Beck [Music] Lily Genevie puler Benjamin Neil ramier Elizabeth Pearl wheeler Tristan Matthew migrant [Music] Madison Nicole Murray Lucas David Garrett Alexis Elise Grover Elsie Janette Shaden Dalton James Rogers Zoe Lauren Morrison Isaiah Salazar San Juan Conor Reed Collins Karina gaale Raider Hudson Maxwell wck Nicholas James pastori Lauren Elaine man Devin Thomas Brown Dakota Ray Stinson Brandy Nicole beer Madison Lee Smith McKinley James Baker Caleb dongu
026Gerber alydia Grace Bur Kiera Marie Crosby Tucker Michael Jenkins Aaliyah Sue Christina Brewbaker bra Marcos bort Natalia Marie Santos Alvarado Chris Leo mlan Noah Scott Z Tyra Janelle Shaw Caleb Michael Daly Gabriel Michael Jones Cruz candalaria rinkenberger Hunter Michael [Music] Winger Joshua Franklin Han Abigail Delaney Kelly Christopher Wayne Gman Jr Gretchen marceles May Christ Christian Carmona castanada Jerry Lane [Music] Brown Caitlyn Renee Bedwell Hutchinson Maxwell craige head [Music] Serena leche Jackson Florence Thomas mclelan Jr Kaa Linley King Jonah William [Music] Cole Lily K [Music] sheets Jordan Merlin [Music] Troyer Elijah Timothy Garrett Samuel Eric meckling Lillian Claire [Music] Rodrick yaroslav vatas slavich sduk Jazelle Maria Martinez Maxim lefkin Owen Grace leure re James [Music] rasnik Ashton Paul Arnett Anthony Joel Ripple Kayla Lynn kefir Taylor Joe mcfarren Brody Thomas James Lewis Reagan Lynn Brooks Jaylin
027Alexandra pton Karan Jackson Acres Hattie Jean Reinhard Christopher James Lynn karstein Savannah Lynn Browning Ivon yoel Amanda cadle Wyatt Landon Meadows Clayton Aaron stob Landon e Christ Lucia Claire corkwell Kylie Laura Luan Sills Fletcher Ste even Winger Kaden Allen connet Andrew Wayne hunt Mary Beth zerker Jacob Michelle shanard Caitlyn Elizabeth Wilson dejon Kenneth Bradley Zara Elizabeth eisenhut Elijah Anthony Robel Addison Kylie Marie Minik Christopher Michael Cortez lyanna denell Irma buty Tyler William Godwin Kyle Michael Crosby Alex West Dawson Leroy car Cameron William strob Haley theres Gibson Gavin Richard Thomas Payton Logan Hall Frank James Su [Applause] [Music] Jr Nolan Lee Crump Kylie Nicole karstein [Music] Leighton Michael Elkins Mason Gara [Music] McCormack Zoe Elizabeth Schmidt Elijah Leland Kendall Spencer Isabella Hannah rodri Kaden Bradley Simpson Alysia Elizabeth Ferrera [Applause] [Music] heern Rett Dwayne Gilbert Allison
028Danielle [Music] Tungate Travis Lee cutshaw Clifford sha Williams Christopher Douglas Kramer II graduates year 2024 please stand and be recognized [Applause] J graduates you are about to become a part of a very proud and Rich Tradition at bluon high school you will join approximately 11,451 other graduates and will become the 142nd graduating class of bluon high school by turning your tassels from right to left you are symbolizing the completion of one phase of your lives from the start of another you may now turn your [Applause] tassels graduates may you have the Hind it to know where you have been the foresight to know where you are going may you have a host of friends that never ends and may God protect you and bless you always ladies and gentlemen at this time I'd like to
029present to you the class of 2024 congratulations and good luck [Applause] [Music] yeah e Wonder oh [Applause] com