6A | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Kennedy from A1
Pate also extended her
thanks to her parents,
friends and classmates for
their support and moti-
vation.
“I can’t wait to see all
the things my classmates
and I achieve in the fu-
ture,” she said. “I’m proud
of all of us.”
Another student speak-
er, Wyatt Leach, told of
his journey from dropout
to graduate, explaining
that his lack of attendance
and focus caused his
grades to drop at Cottage
Grove High School. On
top of that, attempts at
counseling were unfruit-
ful.
“A phrase that I re-
peatedly heard was that
I had dug myself into a
hole and had to suffer the
consequences,” he said. “A
week later, I dropped out
of high school, unsure of
my future.”
Leach realized he had
to turn his life around,
but he was wary of Cot-
tage Grove’s alternative
high school.
“The problem was,
when I was growing up,
I was repeatedly told that
Al Kennedy High School
was the boogeyman
school,” he said. “It was
a place full of juvenile
delinquents, bad kids and
strict, mean teachers. I
was told it’s a place you
don’t want to end up.”
However, Leach said
the care and attention
showed by school staff
quickly changed his
mind.
“I can now tell you
through first-hand expe-
rience that none of these
rumors are true,” he said.
“After just a few weeks
of attending Kennedy,
I realized the teachers
at this school genuinely
care about their students
more than any teachers
I’ve had before in my
entire life.”
Leach thanked the
school staff, his parents
and grandparents for
their dedication to see-
ing him graduate, then
addressed his classmates.
“And to my fellow
graduates, I want to re-
mind you not to believe
everything you hear in
life,” he said. “Please go
experience things in this
world on your own and
form your own opinions
with an open mind. If I
were to have listened to
all the rumors about Al
Kennedy High School,
I probably would not
be standing here today.
I hope myself and my
fellow graduates can
look at today not just as
the end of high school,
but as the beginning of
something bigger and
the people who supported
her in achieving her own
dreams.
“I encourage you to
remember that many
people helped you to get
to school every day and
gave you the strength
to believe in yourself
throughout this process,”
she said.
Teachers then took
turns introducing attend-
ing graduates individ-
ually, commending the
accomplishments, traits
and potential of each be-
fore handing them their
diplomas.
“One of the core beliefs
of our school is that
we strive to establish
meaningful relationships
with all of our students,”
Ketcher said.
Scrima then present-
ed the graduating class
and the ceremony ended
with a recessional song
performed by high school
DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
An Al Kennedy senior expresses her thoughts about graduation on the back of her mortarboard cap while staff David Heritage,
Danny Henson, Aimee
sitting among classmates during Saturday’s ceremony.
Cooper and Matt Hall. As
each of the 27 attending
of happiness and ac-
Lastly, Al Kennedy
given to Penland and Pate
better.”
graduates walked one by
High School itself granted complishment. … Those
to pursue their careers in
Several scholarships
one from the ceremony,
scholarships to Somer-
struggles have only made
culinary arts and medi-
were then presented.
personalized verses were
ville, Bull, Minson, Voigt, this moment sweeter and
cine, respectively.
Sherry Duerst-Higgins
sung to commemorate
have made you all stron-
Leach, Allen, Kane, An-
Next, the Gear Up
presented three schol-
their achievements and
derson, Kaitlyn Vann and ger in the process.”
Scholarship and Linda
arships on behalf of the
highlight their personal-
Ketcher took the op-
Randall Scholarship were Aidan Ellis.
Cottage Grove Commu-
Following scholarships, portunity to acknowledge ities.
divided among students
nity Foundation, award-
Ketcher delivered a spe-
Penland, Kappenman,
ing both the Mildred
cial message to graduates,
Smith Memorial Scholar- Melisa Spicer, Thomas
addressing the challenges
Voigt, Braeden Allen,
ship and Cottage Grove
that many students had
Yovani Robledo, Car-
Board of Realtors Schol-
Septe
mber
faced to be where there
son Anderson, Theodor
arship to Margariet Pen-
19-21
land and the Chambers
Stark-Sharp, Cody Tread- were.
2019
“The class that sits here
Family Lane Community
well, Traevis Giffen and
before us is made up of
Kassadee Acridge.
College Scholarship to
talented, charming, car-
South Lane Education
Greta Kappenman.
Association then present- ing and inspiring young
Kappenman was then
people,” she said. “Each
ed another scholarship
again awarded with the
43rd Annual Quilt Show “Th e Unbroken Th read”
graduating student here
to Anderson, which they
Latham Elementary
QUILT ENTRY & WORKSHOP REGISTRATION
came to Al Kennedy for
provide to students who
School Scholarship, pre-
Forms and guidelines are available online at
their own reasons. … No
“strive to be a leader.”
sented to past students of
www.pioneerquiltersquiltshow.blogspot.com
matter what difficulties
Scholarships through
the school.
you may have faced to get
the Oregon Youth Con-
The VFW Scholarship,
Entry: June 1-July 31 Deadline: Aug. 1, 2019
here today, you should be
servation Corps went to
presented by Dennis
Held at the Cottage Grove Armory
filled with a great sense
Tanin, Minson, Destiny
Twite, was given to Pate.
628 E. Washington Ave
Somerville, Zaelin Bull,
Cottage Grove Rotary
and Melinda Kane.
Scholarships were next
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