10A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JUNE 14, 2017
Kennedy High School seniors earn diplomas, GEDs
Megan Minson was
told
she would not be
cmay@cgsentinel.com
able to graduate with the
class of 2017. On Satur-
day, she gave a speech on behave of her Kennedy
High School classmates during commencement.
Fighting back tears, Minson thanked the teachers
that shaped her high school career, instilled in her
life lessons and welcomed her with open arms.
Because, that’s Kennedy.
Thirty-one students settled into the new De-
light Valley Gymnasium—what will become the
permanent home for future Kennedy students be-
ginning next term—in front of friends and family.
Kennedy’s class of 2017 worked two jobs, raised
children, persevered through hardships and began
college and careers armed with GEDs and high
school diplomas.
“They’re mechanics and Youtube creators,”
Kennedy Principal Mike Ingman told the crowd,
“And we couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Kennedy, which recently dropped the “Alter-
native” from its offi cial name, educates students
who thrive outside of the traditional classroom.
Students like Minson who’s husband is in the
Army and others like Hayden Walker who found
Cottage Grove High School counter productive to
his learning experience.
Work credits, alternative schedules and pro-
grams geared towards GED credits and tradition-
al high school credits are offered throughout the
year to students who opt out of Cottage Grove
High School.
Like the school itself, Kennedy’s graduation
ceremony is unique.
By Caitlyn May
The presentation of the class skips the gener-
ic wave toward the crowd and instead focuses on
each individual students. Teachers and faculty line
up to introduce a handful of students they have
had personal interactions with throughout the
school year. They speak to the students’ passions
and hobbies, their plans and struggles all through
tear strained voices and calls for tissue. After a
personalized congratulations and a hug, students
cross the podium and receive their diplomas.
Saturday’s ceremony also included distribution
of scholarships presented by community leaders
including South Lane School Board President
Sherri Duerst-Higgins who was in attendance
with superintendent Krista Parent, board member
Tammy Hodgkinson, board member Gary Mort
and Kennedy faculty. Thousands of dollars were
awarded to Kennedy students from the Cottage
Grove Foundation, Masonic Lodge, Board of Re-
altors, College Night Oregon, South Lane Cooks
Association, Kiwanis, Gear Up, Turn Around and
OYCC.
To close out a morning dedicated to the unique
students that inhabited Kennedy’s home on Taylor
Ave. for the last time, there was a song.
While other high school graduates funnel out
of their ceremonies to “Pomp and Circumstance,”
Kennedy students do it a little differently.
Staff members David Heritage, Danny Henson
and Matt Hall took their positions at the head of
the gymnasium, instruments in hand and played
the students off. Each verse a personalized tribute
to the student and the hope that, as Minson urged
in her speech, that they would change the world.
Kennedy High School students tun their tassle from one side to the other after being presented as graduates from
the class of 2017 on Saturday, June 10.
Are you ready?
D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS
CGPD offers tips on how to stay safe this summer
trians. As a bicyclist; yield to pedestrians, stay to the right of the path and when
passing call out "on your left" and pass safely, use marked bike paths or multi-use
paths when available, obey vehicular traffi c signals and laws on the roadway, use
extra caution as you transition between bike paths-road-sidewalks and if there is a
bike lane use it. As a driver; yield to pedestrians in crosswalks (failure to do so can
result in a presumptive fi ne of $260) and at intersections as soon they intend/begin
to enter the crosswalk be prepared to stop, be alert of bicyclists-skateboarders-chil-
dren-animals-elderly, come to a complete stop at multi-lane roads 30 feet before
crosswalks, when turning at a signal make sure the pedestrian clears your lane plus
6 feet of the next lane before you can proceed, at any other crosswalk the pedestrian
needs to clear your lane
plus the next lane before
you can proceed and never
pass another vehicle that
has stopped or is slow-
ing down at a crosswalk.
Each month Community
Service Offi cer, Cherie
Nelson of the Cottage
Grove Police Department
will contribute an article
on prevention and safety.
If there is a topic that you
would like more informa-
tion on please contact her
at cnelson@cgpolice.org
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make eye contact, look
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