FHS says goodbye and good luck to graduates - Monday, June 08, 2009 | Fostoria Review Times

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Monday, June 08, 2009

FHS says goodbye and good luck to graduates

By CHANDRA NIKLEWSKI

STAFF WRITER

Hugs, tears and laughter created the atmosphere Sunday at Fostoria High School as nearly 90 graduates spilled out onto the lawn to greet parents and well-wishers after the graduation ceremony.

The class of 2009 graduated at 2 p.m. in the FHS gymnasium and the bleachers were packed with people cheering for each graduate as their name was called. Even an absent student, Stephanie R. Coleman, received a thunderous round of applause at FHS principal Jude Meyers' request. Coleman was the only senior not in attendance due to an illness.

After a processional in which parents scrambled to take pictures of their graduate, Joseph Sheak, senior class advisor, welcomed the assembled guests.

Mayor John Davoli spoke briefly and then guests and graduates were treated to "We can build a bridge," the choral selection by the senior choir members.

Superintendent Cynthia Lemmerman said it would be up to the graduates to restore the free market, seek new sources of energy and give future generations the opportunity to have an "extraordinary education." Lemmerman also said she hoped the graduates would step into a world which they found exciting and fulfilling and urged them to be unafraid to speak their minds.

"Never allow others to belittle your dreams and ambitions," Lemmerman advised.

Lemmerman then introduced the guest speaker, Karis Matz, a 1959 FHS graduate and former teacher at Fostoria Community Schools.

Matz said she had taught six of the graduates as fifth graders and then had moved to the position of sixth-grade music teacher, following her students. Matz said that was when she met the rest of the senior class, which she called the "blessing of my life." Matz said she was connected to the graduates not only as a teacher to her students, but as a fellow graduate and remarked that she was sitting in her cap and gown exactly 50 years before.

Matz said she had five lessons for the students as they began the next chapter of their lives.

Matz encouraged the group to be brave. As the music teacher for many of the students, Matz reminded them of the various concerts they had performed and quoted Shakespeare in telling the students that life was a stage. Matz said the students had walked out on the school stage singing and dancing with "passion and style," the same way they should now approach life.

"Step out on that world-wide stage. Be a star in your own life," Matz said.

Diligence was the second lesson and Matz said regardless of how smart or talented the students were, they would have to work for their accomplishments.

"Diligent people are hard-working. They pay attention to the details and they always get the job done," Matz explained.

Matz told the students to be flexible as they stepped out into the world and that they would have many mountains to climb as they worked their way through life.

"Be sure you find (the right mountain)," Matz said.

Matz told the students change was inevitable and should be embraced.

Being generous was the fourth point Matz made and she instructed the group to be kind and to use their time, talents and resources to help others.

Finally, Matz asked the students to be happy. Although, she warned, bad things, sad things and even tragic things would happen in their lives. She explained nobody knew what the future would bring and that they might as well practice being happy because it's "better than practicing anything else." The one topic Matz said she would not discuss at length with the students was success. Matz said everyone defines success in their own way, but did issue a stern warning.

"I will say one thing. Don't you dare make it about money. Money may be the reward, but it's not the goal," Matz said.

Friends, family and the many former students are why Matz considers herself rich, she explained.

"Make your life a celebration of everything good and right," Matz concluded.

The gathered spectators, administration and students erupted in applause and gave a standing ovation once Matz had finished her speech.

Graduate Lauren P. Morel said Matz's speech was touching.

"I thought she was the perfect person to (speak)," Morel said after the ceremony.

Valedictorians Aaron D. Burrow and Logan M. Markins spoke and Markins echoed Matz's sentiments that success could not be achieved on one's own.

Burrow kept his remarks short, but received a large amount of applause for his simple declaration for the students.

"Just remember to thank God for your parents, your friends and your teachers. Without them, we would not be who we are today," Burrow said.

Diplomas were presented by Jo Hollingsworth, board of education president, and Lemmerman. Once all the diplomas were dispersed, Hollingsworth instructed the students to place their tassels on the opposite side of their cap to signify they were officially graduates.

The alma mater was performed and Meyers made closing comments before the graduates left the room to the applause of their friends and loved ones.

Contact staff writer Chandra Niklewski at: Send an e-mail to Chandra Niklewski.

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Fostoria Review Times

Local News

Monday, June 08, 2009

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