24
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
GRADUATION: Teacher
singled out each
graduate
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
Continued from page 1
introduced director Rick
Johnson and members of
the Sisters High School jazz
choir, who performed a flaw-
less rendition of the national
anthem.
A brief welcome by
Hosang followed, including
his thanks to all of the peo-
ple involved in the lives of
the graduates. He described
the class as being a confi-
dent, spirited group that also
displayed honor in the way
they conducted themselves
throughout the four years of
high school.
“It’s truly been my honor
to serve as the principal of
this class,” he said.
Hosang then turned the
stage over to teacher Matt
Bradley, requested by the
class to be the guest speaker,
and, after a brief tongue-in-
cheek argument that Chalula
hot sauce is the true key to
happiness, he took his speak-
ing opportunity to give the
group one last academic
lesson, complete with pow-
erpoint. The intent was to
inspire each one to live their
lives based on the ideals of
contemplation, compassion,
and courage.
Bradley moved about the
stage with a style that was
a mix of TED talk presenter
and preacher, quoting from
icons of philosophy, religion,
and social justice. He urged
the students to live lives in
a state of soul versus a state
of self: contemplation in
the manner of Emerson and
Socrates, compassion in the
manner of Mother Teresa
and the 14th Dalai Lama,
and courage in the style of
Thoreau and King.
In the second half of his
55-minute talk, Bradley
addressed each student by
name with a word of encour-
agement, an anecdote, or an
observation. He interacted
with the students with a mix
of humor and obvious sin-
cerity. The raucous applause
he received from the class
of 2018 indicated the class’s
true appreciation of him.
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Graduating Outlaws seniors displayed their musical talents in a ceremony
held Thursday evening at Sisters High School.
Following Bradley, it was
time to hear from valedic-
torian Cassidy Ling-Scott,
who topped the class with
a 4.23 grade point average.
She shared some of what
her classmates and teach-
ers taught her over the years
and concluded with what she
called “three simple truths.”
She said, “One, be your-
self, even if it feels that you
are standing alone. Two,
always work and never give
up. Sometimes the road will
be bumpy. Three, surround
yourself with people who
make you better.”
She focused on her view
of how special the schools
and community spirit of
Sisters are. She quoted
Michelle Obama: “Our great-
ness comes when we appre-
ciate each other’s strengths,
when we learn from each
other and when we lean on
each other.”
She concluded, “So go on,
class of 2018, do great things
and never forget that we have
each other and we have this
unique place that we call
home.”
In one final performance,
a group of seniors shared the
song “Oh My Love,” led by
Rylee Funk who played the
guitar she finished earlier in
the week in Tony Cosby’s
class.
In a long-standing Outlaw
tradition of expressing
thanks, the seniors distributed
flowers to their mothers and
others, and once they were
back in their seats everyone
got to sit back and enjoy a
video, produced by senior
Eryn Ricker, featuring baby
pictures of the graduates.
The business of calling
each senior forward for the
presentation of diplomas
shifted the focus to one of
the last rites of passage in
the American culture. Within
a few minutes, after tassels
were moved and Principal
Hosang formally presented
the graduating class of 2018,
mortarboards flew into the
air and the fresh batch of
Outlaw alums exited to the
courtyard to greet their loved
ones.
path.
In the spring, usually at the end of April or early May, the
plow goes up the MIDDLE of the road as far as they can.
The reason they do this is not to make a bike lane. To save
taxpayers money they only plow a path as wide as the plow
blade. They don’t plow the entire road as this would take mul-
tiple passes. They are smart, they let the sun do the work for
them.
The sun melts the snow and gradually the road becomes
wider. Eventually the entire road and the turnouts are free of
snow. All done for free.
The fact that hikers and bikeriders use the road is
just because they can. The road is very narrow and it
would be dangerous for bikers to ride when it is open to
cars.
After the road is clear of snow there is other maintenance
that has to be done before the road can be opened to cars such
as clearing debris off the road, fixing potholes, painting the
center line, clearing drainage areas, and repairing and posting
signs.
Another reason the road is not open to cars early is because
of the narrow pass just east of the summit. This area can’t be
plowed out until the snow melts. This gap is very narrow and
the walls are high so the plow can’t blow the snow off the side
of the road. I have biked up to this point many times and have
had to walk the rest of the way through the deep snow to get
to summit. Until this narrow gap is cleared the road cannot
be opened to cars, and this is usually done late long after the
lower road is clear.
No Mr. Brown it isn’t a conspiracy or a secret. It is just
nature.
J. Thomas Jeffrey
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