It’s your choice, so go out and do what you want in life

As retiring middle/high school principal Dave Elliott looks on proudly, the Cornell Class of 2023 tosses their caps high in the air, celebrating that their next journey at last begins. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

This 107th Cornell High School graduating class, has accomplished something not seen before – finishing with a combined 437 college credits. The announcement came during the commencement ceremony May 26, that those credits saved parents more than $62,000 in tuition, which wouldn’t be possible without a lot of support from not just the school, but also community and families.

“Graduation is not just a night to celebrate the students behind me, it is also a celebration of those sitting in front of me,” said middle/high school principal Dave Elliott. “These graduates are a wonderful reflection of you.”

“God knows, the last four years have not been easy for a lot of us, but if we made it here today, that’s all that matters,” agreed Valedictorian Avery Turany. “Now that we’re graduated, we’re going to have a lot more control over the way our lives go.”

Whether their paths lead them to be a CEO of a multi-million dollar company or the first person on Mars, or even a cowboy living on a ranch in Colorado, Turany said it’s all up to the Class of 2023.

“I know it sounds cliche, but I promise you, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything,” he said.

Turany also wants to see his classmates be the best human beings they can be, challenging them to leave the world a better place than they found it, such as opening the door for someone or picking up litter.

“No matter what you do in life or where you are, all I’m asking, is that you make the effort to do the little things,” said Turany.

Salutatorian Rachel Laird learned her own valuable lessons over the years, including that “the dog ate my homework” didn’t actually pan out. She also pondered why, in elementary school, they worked so hard to be extra good and complete assignments to earn tickets, just to eat lunch with the teacher. “Boy, what were we thinking?” she asked. Laird admits that they all have made mistakes and taken a step back, but says that’s what life is about. “We’ve made it this far, so keep making those mistakes moving forward,” she said. Elliott acknowledges that sometimes, when you come from a small school, that first step out, where you don’t know someone, can be the hardest. That doesn’t worry him, though, as he knows exactly what the class is made of. “These kids can compete with anybody,” said Elliott. “But there is no doubt that this is going to be an incredible, successful group.” Scholarships and awards presented, include the following:

• Blake Anders – Edith B. Arnhold, $1,000

• Bryce Anderson – 2023-24 SMC Ltd. Engineering, $2,500; Blue Devil, $2,000; Fulton and Eden Holtby Endowed, $1,000; Pauline Johnson Jiskra & Gail Mittermeyer, $1,000

• Dylan Bowe – Chippewa Valley Electric, $500; Eino Martino Family, $500; Excellence in Education, $100; R.L. Hendrickson Family, $750

• Khloe Kilde – Greenhouse, $250

• Rachel Laird – Chippewa Valley Electric, $500; American Legion, $1,000; Citizens State Bank, $500; Cornell Veterinary Clinic, $1,000; Dr. John & Marge Parker Honorary, $1,000; Edith B. Arnhold, $1,000; Memorial Scholarship of Bruce Conley, $1,000; R.L. Hendrickson Family, $1,000; Technical

Excellence, $6,750

• Kassidy Recker – Robert Currie, $1,000

• Madyson Sanders – Cornell Teachers Credit Union, $575; Robert Currie, $1,000; Edith B. Arnhold, $1,000

• Kc Rose – FFA, $500; Falcon Soar, $1,500; Matt and Tracy Helgerson Family, $250

• Taiylor Sturgis – Greenhouse, $250; Masonic, $400; Edith B. Arnhold, $1,000; Excellence in Education, $100; Frances Cleaves, $300

• Avery Turany – Blue Devil, $2,000; Excellence in Education, $100; Fulton and Eden Holtby Endowed, $1,000; Pauline Johnson Jiskra & Gail Mittermeyer, $1,000; Cornell Lions Club, $2,000; Tom’s Sales & Service, $500; Wisconsin Academic Excellence, $9,000

• Michayla Turchen – Tom’s Sales & Service, $500

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="243"] A grateful Madyson Sanders hugged those close to her, after receiving her diploma and bidding an emotional farewell to high school classmates, experiences and memories. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_179636" align="alignnone" width="300"] Valedictorian Avery Turany[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_179637" align="alignnone" width="300"] Salutatorian Rachel Laird[/caption]