New Buffalo seniors given praise, advice on navigating the ‘marathon of life’

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

At the New Buffalo High School Class of 2023’s commencement, which took place in the middle/ high school’s multiplex field Saturday, June 3, New Buffalo High School Principal Tracy Ripley listed the following accomplishments that the students have achieved while at New Buffalo: 12 of them are Senior Scholars, 13 students have STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) endorsements, six have achieved the Seal of Biliteracy, two of them have received the Career and Technical Education Student of the Year award and three have postsecondary endorsements and certifications already achieved.

In addition, the class has 354 college credits earned with an additional 132 potential college credits that they’re waiting for scores on as well as $236,000 in scholarship money.

“To say the class of 2023 is outstanding is quite an understatement,” Ripley said. Students accomplished all this while navigating a global pandemic, which took place in their freshmen and sophomore years.

“To the class of 2023, this has truly been an historic and unforgettable journey that has prepared you for the future, whatever it may hold – students, individually, your experience is unique but together, you share a common experience as members of the New Buffalo High School Class of 2023,” Ripley said.

As coaches for both the middle and high school track teams, the class’ co-advisors, Natalie Walter and Nate Jones reminded the class that an age-old saying applied to their individual experiences to get to these achievements: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Since they were embarking on their respective teaching careers when the students were still in middle school, Walter and Jones got to witness the students reach certain “mile markers” in their school careers.

This includes inside the classroom as well as outside, as Walter said they “played with poise and promise” at band concerts, “dominated the track and field in athletics,” “unleashed their creative sides” in theater and “dressed to impress” at dances.

After these first “miles together” in their education, Jones told the students they then found their “footing and your interests and gained more confidence as you set your sights on the next mile marker: high school.” Like any race, students then changed their strategy and created “new goals” for themselves, tackling new extracurricular activities and academic pursuits.

Each decision that the graduates made, Jones said, helped them “figure out how to propel you to your next checkpoint: graduation.”

“Now, as you gear up for the next part of your marathon, whether you enter directly into the workforce, pursue a trade or continue your education, remember to trust yourself, go forward with confidence and determination, continue to utilize your skill sets and knowledge and go after what’s important to you…Remember the lessons learned and embrace any and all challenges, take advantage of the opportunities that will come your way and savor the victories,” Walter said.

Camille Czech, who gave the senior address, said that she has no doubt that, whatever individual paths the students choose to tread down in the marathon of life, they will make an impact on society.

But she advised students to let society also have an impact an them.

“See the potential in every opportunity that is presented to you and reach for it - you will never know how much of an influence one decision will have on your life until that decision is made,” she said.

Students should also be on the lookout for what they admire most about individuals around them and strive to be like them as well as “be kinder, be selfless, be dependable, be a leader.”

“I challenge you to go out of your way each day to make someone’s time on Earth alittle better - even the smallest action can have the greatest impact…It’s so easy to make a significant difference in other people’s lives, so why not do it?” she said

“I m so incredibly proud of everything my class has accomplished thus far and I‘m eager to see what we achieve in the future.”

This year’s crop of Senior Scholars are: Camille Rosemarie Czech, Richard Eberly, Matthew Duane

Fidler, Carys McColl Gallas, Amanda Jean Jones, Ren Sandra Nash, Keagen Currie Papke, Joseph Robert Pokuta, Ella Kensington Roch, Samantha Ann Smith, Addison Paige Stover, and Alexander Keith Thompson.

Members of the Class of 2023 are: Romario Alex Arana***, Marta Catherine Baughman**, Aaliyah Marie Bradshaw*, Ava Grace

Brown*, Luke Robert Lee Brown, Jordan Elizabeth Bryk, Evan S Burian, ThomasWhite Ciccarelli, Ethan Collis, Ellie Kathleen Cybulski*, Camille Rosemarie Czech****, Benjamin Allen Dailey, Jaylen Jason Eidam*,

Haruki Richard Eberly****, David Lucas Fairchild*, Matthew Duane Fidler***, Carys McColl Gallas****, Estelle Globensky, Ariana

Leticia De La Rosa-Huizar, Landon Jason Haskins*, Samuel John Haskins*, Neil Edward Johnson, Amanda Jean Jones****, Kaitlyn Marie Jones*, Theodore Kohl*, Lillyana Eve Landess, Dru Thompson

Larimer*, Brady Edward Lewis*, Caleigh

Lynn Livengood*, Milo Ludwig, Evan Michael Messinger*, Ren Sandra Nash***, Maxwell Ross Nikkel*, Isabella Simone Notorangelo**, Keagen Currie Papke****, Alexie Ann JoynerParmley***, Joseph Robert Pokuta****, Ella Kensington Roch ****, Lily Rae Ruszkowski, Treasure Ella Samuka*, Elizabeth Nicole Schmock***, Amelia Ann Selir*, Gavin Joseph Sexton, Samantha Ann Smith****, Evan Roger Spriggs**, Addison Paige Stover****, and Alexander Keith Thompson**.

(Accumulative G.P.A. for past 11 trimesters)

****Summa Cum Laude (Gold Cord)

*** Magna Cum Laude (Silver Cord)

**Cum Laude (Bronze Cord) Honors (Blue Cord)

Certificate of Attendance: Matilde Alessandrini, exchange student.