High School graduation ceremony sees blue skies

The day of May 27 saw blue skies and sunshine, when the Class of 2022 and supporters convened at Oriole Park for the 2022 Commencement Ceremony.

Walking from the school grounds down the asphalt path to Oriole Park to a prerecorded rendering of “Pomp and Circumstance” by the Stanley- Boyd High School band, graduates led by Stanley-Boyd

faculty arrived at the 50-yard line and across the field, faced the audience in parade review and then turned to sit down for the show.

Led ou by event emcees and Class of 2022 graduating seniors Carsen Hause and Mike Karlen Jr., the 6 p.m. welcome was punctuated with remembrances of distance learning and a quote on procrastination attributed to Mark Twain, who said: "Never put ou until to – morrow what you can put ou until the day after tomorrow.” In short, motivation is needed for long-term autonomous learning, something the Class of 2022 did not choose but nonetheless stepped up to, at least to the degree possible.

Back at Oriole Park Friday, Hause introduced high school principal Tanya Mahr to the au- dience, with Mahr first calling for a moment of silence with the Candle of Remembrance, “for those who can’t be with us today.”

Next turning to motivational author and speaker Bob Buford for inspiration, Mahr preceded her remarks on Buford with a noteworthy observation.

“Recent events, and really events from the last few years have shown us that life is fragile and full of the unexpected,” she said.

Then turning to the book “Half Time” by Buford, Mahr divided life into three stages: first half, halftime, and second half.

In the first half, a person built and accumulated things like knowledge, while in half time they figured things out. The second half was for growth and giving back.

“I challenge you, the Class of 2022, to really make use of your halftime,” Mahr said applying the life observations to graduates here and now. “Lead by example. Push yourself, love yourself and be yourself,” she said, then ouering "con gratulations, good luck, and best wishes” to the class.

Shifting in turn to a prerecorded choir piece directed by Jan Mickelson and accompanied by Lynn Grace, attendees of Thursday’s graduation event heard the passage of time, and the observation “to everything there is a season; to everything there is a time.”

Following this was the Salutatorian Address given by Jessica Hazuga, who shared of sitting through her sister’s graduation seven years prior and thinking that her own seemed so far ou.

Having reached that day and admittedly outside her comfort zone speaking to a crowd, Hazuga shared various student quotes and then gave one of her own.

“Push past your fears and don’t let your past keep you from your future,” she said.

Then turning to a prerecorded selection performed by the high school and middle school band, the musical interlude was followed by a valedictory address from Victoria “Torie” Szczech, who spoke of the graduating class experience, and gratitude.

“The times we’ve had in high school will stay with us forever,” she said, including “what we all thought was going to be an extra week of spring break, and turned into a worldwide lockdown.” Szczech had words of praise for Stanley-Boyd faculty.

“Stanley-Boyd believes in us, and is willing to put the time in to ensure that we learn,” she said, noting the “inclusive environment” between teachers and students.

Speaking next of the death GRADUATION

From Page 1

of classmate Wyatt Milas in an accident from October of 2020, Szczech said that, “it was devastating and unexpected,” but also that, “He will be in our hearts and is most certainly with us today.”

With that it was time for Superintendent Jeu Koenig to take the podium, sharing some brief remarks before avrming those present had met the requirements of graduation.

Sharing that he had once taught Personal Finance and that this was a requirement for graduation at Stanley-Boyd, the now superintendent said he would talk with his classes about setting goals in life.

“As you move forward in life, set goals, keep a hand on the rudder,” he said, touching on the paradoxical commandments as written by then Harvard student Kent Keith in 1968.

Dwelling on the paradoxes of human nature, among the com- mandments ouered Friday were that, "People are illogical, un reasonable, and self-centered,” but to “love them anyway,” as well as that “People favor underdogs but only follow top dogs,” but to "fight for a few underdogs anyway." With that it was on to presentation of the class and diploma granting, Koenig closing out his remarks.

“Congratulations, and go Orioles!” he said.