COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL June 10, 2015
11A
Cottage Grove sends 136 'important' graduates out into the world
Principal tells grads 'your brilliance is
still in its rawest stage'
BY MATT HOLLANDER
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
S
ome people have really
cool jobs with great perks,
such as the Nike Store worker
in Principal Iton Udosenata’s
opening anecdote to the gradu-
ates and guests of Saturday’s
graduation ceremony at Cottage
Grove High School.
“This acquaintance of mine
can get discounts for all of his
friends, and he regularly meets
some of the most important
people in sports,” he said. “But
then I think to myself, ‘I get to
work with some pretty impor-
tant people too,’ and I feel lucky
that I get to shake their hands
here today.”
In all, Udosenata would shake
the hands of 136 new graduates,
but before passing out their di-
plomas, he reminded them that
their education has only just be-
gun.
“In your years at Cottage
Grove High School you’ve
learned about grit, perseverance
and teamwork. You’ve learned
the difference between dress-
ing for success and a dress-code
violation. But understand that
your brilliance is still in its raw-
est stage,” he said.
The 2015 valedictorians were
Justin Bennett, Luke Bennett,
Hijiriko Cattleman, Ronan Hall
and Kolby Owens, and each
one had a chance to address the
graduating class.
Justin Bennett reminded ev-
eryone that although it’s a cliche
to say, ‘we’ve made it,’ cliches
have a lot of truth to them and
that there are many more ‘we’ve
made it’ moments ahead.
Luke Bennett said that life
doesn’t slow down for anyone,
so go on more adventures and
“use what we’ve learned.”
And while most graduates are
anxious to move up and out to
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photo by Matt Hollander
Cottage Grove High School's Class of 2015 had fi ve valedictorians, who eached shared thoughts on the occasion.
better things, Owens reminded
his classmates that Cottage
Grove will always remain.
“Give it a couple years; we’ll
Fifty students earned
their diplomas or
GED certifi cates on
Saturday
BY MATT HOLLANDER
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
A
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1498 E. Main Street
541-942-8444
l Kennedy High School
principal Mike Ingman
stepped to the podium during
Saturday’s graduation ceremony
at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Catholic Church and recited
“The Bridge Builder,” a poem
by Will Allen Dromgoole.
“That’s what we do here,”
he explained. “We help these
young men and women build
photo by Matt Hollander
Rachel Eckstine (pictured), along with Sasha Cole,
spoke on behalf of the class at Saturday’s graduation
ceremony.
bridges from school to life.”
Fifty students were honored
on Saturday for earning their
diploma or passing the General
Education Development (GED)
test. The class of 2015 could
very well be the largest in the
history of Al Kennedy.
In addition, 25 scholarships
were awarded to students for
Actual
Spectrum
Residents
furthering their education.
Mary Meir was recognized
with scholarships from the Ma-
sonic Lodge, Coast Fork Wil-
lamette Watershed Council,
Wayne Fields and the Cottage
Grove Community Foundation.
Amanda Woody received
scholarships from the Kiwanis
Clubs of Cottage Grove and
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Conner Borigo.
In her comments, Borigo re-
fl ected on the memories that she
and her fellow graduates made
while growing up in Cottage
Grove.
A bridge from school to life:
Kennedy students complete the journey
Grant Gording, BC-HIS
Board Certifi ed in
Hearing Instrument Sciences
all be back,” he joked.
The salutatorians, who also
had the opportunity to speak,
were Shannon Dempsey and
June 19 & 20
the Bohemia Sunrisers, as well
as the Cottage Grove Board of
Realtors.
Sharla Cole also earned a
scholarship from the Bohemia
Sunrisers. Cole, along with Ra-
chel Eckstine, spoke on behalf
of the class.
“Many people told me that
high school would be the beat
years of my life. While it has
at times been fun, this has also
been the hardest thing I’ve ever
overcome. I am so proud of this
class,” Cole said.
Eckstine, who dropped out of
high school after two years, said
that her faith in giving Al Ken-
nedy a shot was rewarded by
graduating on time.
Ten students received Or-
egon Gear Up scholarships,
including Christine Ahlwardt,
Arleth Christensen, Cole, Andy
Crowder, Eckstine, Casey Finch,
Ray Lloyd, Meir, Emily Peters
and Jason Richter.
Five more scholarships were
awarded from the Oregon
Youth Conservation Corps to
Eckstine, Casey Finch, Connor
Fitch, Bryson Howard and Mark
Peck.
Before passing out diplomas,
Ingman left the class with four
pieces of advice: one, work hard
in life because it’s a requirement
for success; two, make your own
path and don’t be afraid to be an
individual; three, don’t be afraid
to fail, so long as you learn from
the mistakes; and four, fi nd your
own paradise, which isn’t a
place but a feeling.
“I hope that you can all fi nd
something as special as what
we’ve had here at Kennedy,” he
said.
(more info to follow)
Community Development Department
Emergency Management Division
942-3340
NOTICE TO CUT OR REMOVE
TALL GRASS – HAZARDOUS VEGETATION –
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
Notice is hereby given that property owners or persons in control of property are required in the
City of Cottage Grove to cut or remove tall grass, hazardous vegetation and combustible materi-
als during the fi re season from June 15 th to November 1 st (CGMC 8.12 Nuisances).
Tall grass and hazardous vegetation includes wild blackberry bushes; weeds & grass more than
12 inches tall anywhere on your property including public lands out to the street. Vegetation
that is likely to endanger buildings or other property should it catch on fi re must also be cut or
removed.
During the fi re season inspections will be made and property owners notifi ed that they must cut
or remove the hazardous vegetation. Failure to cut or remove the grass or vegetation will result
in the City having to abate the problem. The cost of abatement will be charged to the property
and if unpaid will become a lien against the property.
Property owners are reminded that they must keep hazardous vegetation and tall grass cut less
than 12 inches until November 1 st . Questions can be answered by the Community Develop-
ment Department at City Hall, by calling 541-942-3340 or by email: planning@cottagegrove.org