Congratulations to the Class of 2011

June 25, 2011

Following a commencement ceremony filled with speeches about living a fulfilling life and preparing for the future, some the 81 members of the Class of 2011 at Mayfield Jr. /Sr. High School tossed their caps into the air in celebration on Saturday, June 25.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the graduates – wearing blue gowns – filed into a large tent on the athletic fields to music arranged by Nicholas Anker.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, Senior Class President Alexandra Husain welcomed classmates, teachers, family, friends and administrators and thanked them for the various roles they’ve played in the lives of the graduates.

Salutatorian Jenna Tomlinson then took the podium for her speech. She said the chance to move forward and begin their lives is both exciting and unbelievably scary as well.

“Despite the fact that it’s ending, I for one am glad for the time I did have with all of you, to experience the good and the bad, and grow with you into the people we all are today,” she said.

“Today we are young people who were once children scared of public speaking, elementary students afraid to be left alone in the lunch room, or junior high kids scared we would forget our locker combinations.”

Alexandra Husain, also the valedictorian, followed with her speech. She praised the teachers at Mayfield and said she and her classmates were fortunate to “learn from the best.” She thanked the teachers while also recognizing her graduating peers and parents and guardians.

She said as they leave Mayfield, she wanted to share a quote from author and columnist, Anna Quindlen: “It is so easy to waste our lives: our days, our hours, our minutes…It is so easy to exist instead of live.”

Alexandra said the quote basically means to live life to the fullest, which is what she wishes for her fellow graduates.

“Try new things, meets lots of new unique people, appreciate the small things in life, and expand your knowledge of the world,” she said.

Superintendent Paul Williamsen then told the graduates that today is the Fourth of July for them because graduation is the resolution of their independence.

“With your new found independence, go out and be passionate about what you do,” he said. “Follow your heart and choose trust and honesty in your personal and professional decisions.”

Before diplomas were awarded, the staff gave five additional awards (the 2011 senior class awards were held on June 24) in five subjects. The winners included: Alexandra Husain (social studies), Alysha Baker (English), Meaghan Drumm (science), Nikki Quant (fine arts) and Jenna Tomlinson (math).

At the end of the ceremony, the Class of 2011 moved their tassels from right to left signifying graduation, eliciting loud cheers and some air horns from the audience