Standard School graduation a night to remember

Times Contributor

 

A proud group of 19 students from Standard School crossed the stage to receive their diplomas on Friday night in front of a packed out gymnasium.

Students representing the communities of Gleichen, Hussar, Rockyford, Rosebud and Standard made up the 2012 graduating class in Standard this year. As always the gymnasium was tastefully decorated in purple, black and silver with the tradition of cartoon characters representing each of the grads on the walls. After a wonderful meal catered by Pat Murphy from Rosebud the program of thanks and toasts began. Mr. Ed Yu gave a marvelous tribute to the grads on his guitar and sang the lyrics that he made up for each of them personally. The students presented their parents with roses with their “Forever Grateful” tribute before the ceremonies began.

After a small roast by teacher Mark McKeen, the following grads received their diplomas from Principal Karen Smith: Owen Dahm, Cody Dale-McNair, Adelle Ellis, Janelle Hoff, Abraham Jensen, Ryan Joyce, Amy Kalbhen, Travis Kathol, Justin Kinney, Stephanie Larsen, Morgan McCallum, Carly Melcher, Duncan Michie, Mallory Nelson, Toby Noy, David Rasmussen, Caley Ryan, Ethan Stinn and Brandon Thomas.

Valedictorian Toby Noy addressed his fellow graduates with the beginnings of Coach Herb Brooks locker room speech to the USA Men’s hockey team before they played the USSR. “Right moments are born from great opportunity, and that’s what you have here, tonight boys, that’s what you earned here tonight. One game, if we play em’ ten times they might win nine, but not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with em’, tonight we stay with … This is your time. Now go out there and take it.” (Herb Brooks), rendition by Noy. Noy stated that their group was a tight knit group who had been together through thick and thin. They had learned what it was like to work and play together as a team and encouraged his class at the end again with the last line of Brooks’ speech, “This is your time. Now go out there and take it.”

The encouragement and commission by Noy in his speech was continued by the following guest speaker, whom the grad class chose to address them for the evening, Scott Courtney. Courtney told the class before him to be passionate in all they seek to do in their lives, to take time, to make little goals and keep them alongside their bigger dreams.

The evening concluded with the Grand March and first dance with the parents before students headed off to their various graduation parties.