Class of 2021 learns from mistakes as they grow together
It was an emotional evening, as family and friends came together to celebrate the 105th graduating class of Cornell High School, May 28.
“There’s a tremendous amount of talent sitting behind me,” said high school principal Dave Elliott. “Academics, creativity, humor, craftsmanship, caring, athletic ability and leadership, embody who they are.”
Valedictorian Alyssa Helland then took the stage, to share her story and things the class learned along the way. She says she has wanted to be Valedictorian since fourth grade and made that her goal.
Helland says she is glad to grow up with the class, starting in preschool.
“Even though most of us won’t stay in touch, just remember that at one point, we were all part of each other’s lives and that we share a lot of memories together,” said Helland.
She says she will miss her classmates, especially their funny remarks and the weird nicknames accumulated over the years.
Helland also addressed the parents and guardians in the room, thanking them for everything they did to help the class achieve success.
“Everything you may have thought went unnoticed – it didn’t,” said Helland.
Finally, she ended with things the class learned in their time together.
“School can be very fun, if you have the right people to spend it with,” said Helland.
She also says tying strings to scooters and whipping each other across the gym is a blast, as long as you don’t run into people. Lastly, she says it is a given that, in the course of high school, you will get hit in the head with a rubber dodgeball at least once.
Salutatorian Isabelle Clark also took time to reminisce about the Class of 2021’s time together. She says they made mistakes together and learned from them.
“We found out that skiing behind a truck in the parking lot, is the quickest way to lose the privilege of open campus,” said Clark, to laughs.
Clark says the pandemic taught them to make the most of the time they did get to spend together.
Recalling kindergarten graduation, Clark says the class likely would have said their post-school plans were to become astronauts, gold medalists or cowboys.
“Now, who really knows?” said Clark.
She says they still have time to change their minds.
“To all of my classmates, my hope for you, is that you continue making those mistakes that help you become a better person,” said Clark. “That you travel and see what the rest of the world has to offer, but never forget the people and the place that has led you to this very moment.”
Scholarships and awards presented include the following:
• Austin Bowe – $1,000 Cornell Teachers Credit Union; $1,000 Gene Haas; up to $2,000 Edward and Hannah Rutledge; Frank and Susan Huettner
• Isabelle Clark – $500 Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative; $500 COVID Relief; $1,000 Edith B. Arnhold Memorial; $500 Greenhouse; $500 River Country Co-op; $2,000 R.L. Hendrickson; $250 Tom’s Sales & Service; $1,000 Yellowjacket; $200 Excellence in Education
• Clayton Frazer – $500 FFA; $300 Frances Cleaves; $6,750 Technical Excellence; $250 WASDA President’s; $1,000 Edith B. Arnhold Memorial
• Michaiah Galster – $1,000 Dr. John & Marge Parker Honorary; $1,000 Edith B. Arnhold Memorial
• Alyssa Helland – $1,000 American Legion; $500 American Red Cross; $500 Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative; $250 Cornell Spirit Club; $1,000 Edith B. Arnhold Memorial; $400 Masonic; $500 Mega Co-op; $500 WASDA President’s; $3,000 Weather Shield; $9,000 Wisconsin Excellence in Education; up to $2,000 Edward and Hannah Rutledge; $200 Excellence in Education; Frank and Susan Huettner
• Tyler Laird – $500 Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative; $1,500 Compeer Financial; $1,000 Bruce Conley Memorial; $250 WASDA President’s
• Wyatt Peloquin – $1,000 Ortan Dahlby; $1,000 Robert H. and Janice L. Currie
• Jocelyn Tirrel – $200 Excellence in Education
• Brandon Werlein – $2,000 Cornell Lions Club; $1,000 Pauline Johnson Jiskra & Gail Mittermeyer Memorial; $250 Tom’s Sales & Service
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Graduates took the time to thank those who helped them achieve success, with a flower presentation. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]
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The graduates gathered to do their class chant one last time, before throwing their caps in celebration of a high school career well-done. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]
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Kolbey Kendall (right) is all smiles as he accepts his diploma from Cornell School Board member Stephanie Seidlitz during the commencement ceremony May 28. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]
