Words of wisdom for MLHS Class of 2015 from Nick Naxay
The 35 graduates of the Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) Class of 2015 – the school’s 111th graduating class – were told by Commencement speaker Nick Naxay to, “First – take care of the golf balls.”
Naxay shared the comments during Commencement exercises held Friday evening, May 15, in the school’s auditorium.
The crux of Naxay’s comments were based on the idea of not living life with regrets. “If you see something, strive for it. It’s never too late to try for something. And – keep your priorities right.”
To illustrate the message, Naxay, a 2003 graduate of MLHS and current officer with the Mountain Lake Police Department, presented the story of a college professor – and an empty mayonnaise jar.
The storyline runs like this:
The professor placed an empty mayonnaise jar on his desk and filled it up with golf balls – until no more would fit. He asked the students in his classroom if the jar was full – and each one agreed that it was indeed full.
The instructor then poured a box of small pebbles into the jar with the golf balls. The pebbles filled all the opening between the golf balls. Again, he asked his students if the jar was full. Again, they agreed that it was.
Next, the teacher picked up a bag of sand and poured that, too, into the mayonnaise jar. The sand filled in all of the empty space around the golf balls and pebbles. Once again, he asked the class members if the jar was full. And, once again, the students agreed it was technically full.
Lastly, the professor pulled out two cups of coffee and poured both of them into the jar, which filled in the empty spaces around the sand particles, with some absorbed by the sand.
The professor told the students that the jar with the golf balls, pebbles, sand – and coffee – represented their lives. He stressed that the golf balls are the priorities, the important things – family, children, health, friends and passions. If an individual lost everything else, and only the golf balls remained – their life would still be full.
He went on to state that the pebbles represented other things that matter in life – a job, house and car.
The sand was everything else – the small stuff.
Holding up the jar, the professor noted to the students that if the jar was first filled with sandd, there would be no room for pebbles or golf balls.
He went on to stress that it was the same for life. Spending lots of time and energy and the small stuff means there will never be room for the things that are the most important. It was important, he emphasized, to pay attention to the important things in life. A list of those things included enjoying time with family, going to dinner with a spouse, playing games with children. The teacher stated that there will always be time to clean the house or go shopping.
The key is to take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. The rest – is just sand.
As for “why” the two cups of coffee – the professor told them with a smile that – “No matter how full life gets, there is always room to have coffee with a friend.”
Introducing Naxay was the class vice-president, Benjamin Grev.
Commencement-opening Words of Inspiration were shared by Jennifer Wright, senior class secretary/treasurer.
Jared Willaby, senior class president, shared the Class Response, noting the positives that each of his classmates bring to the table of life.
Both the Senior High Band, under the baton of Kurt Jahnke, and the Senior High and Senior Class Choirs, directed by Andrea Brinkman, shared musical selections. The Senior High Band presented the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” processional, as well as the number, “Ruckus,” by Randall Standridge. The Senior High Choir sang “Music, Lead the Way,” by Laura Farnell, while the Senior Class Choir shared “The Adventure,” by Angels and Airwaves, backed on electric guitar by seniors Eric Wenner, Byron Franz and Levi Jahnke; Jennifer Wright on drum set; Daniel Harder on piano and on xylophone, Hamlet Tanyavong.
Julie Brugman of the Mountain Lake Area Scholarship Program presented the senior scholarships and Paul Metcalf awarded the Bradley Behrends Memorial Scholarship.
Pamela Anderson, high school principal, presented the class for graduation, and Douglas Standerwick, chair of the Mountain Lake Public School Board of Education, and Mountain Lake Public School Superintendent Bill Strom, awarded the diplomas to the members of the class
The recessional was, “I Lived,” by One Republic.
The motto for the Class of 2015 read – “You live your life only once, but if you life it right, once is enough.”
Maroon and Silver were the traditional class colors.
Senior Class advisors include Brenda Feil, Shawn Naas and Kim Syverson.
Junior Class usherettes and ushers were Chanah Brandt, Carly Fast, Akin Tema-Lopez and Christian Voshage Hampel.
Stage flowers were courtesy of the MLHS Floriculture class.
Twenty-three of the 35 class members earned the distinction of being named an Honor Student. In order to achieve this honor, the student must have maintained a 3.0 or “B” average in his or her high school years in all classes taken.
The alphabetical list of Honor Students is as follows:
* Reece Englund, son of Norman and Deborah Englund.
* Benjamin Grev, son of David and Kendra Grev.
* Daniel Harder, son of David and Pratoomporn Harder.
* Derek Harder, son of Duane and Belle Harder.
* Lydia Hildebrandt, daughter of Gary and Karen Hildebrandt.
* Olivia Hopwood, daughter of Brian and Margaret Hopwood.
* Levi Jahnke, son of Kurt and Heidi Jahnke.
* Brianna Jensen, daughter of Amy Janzen and Wayland Jensen.
* Jacob Junker, son of Randy and Brigitte Junker.
* Carlos Lira Cardona, son of Katina Liracardona and Juan Liracardona.
* Daniel Nelson, son of Michael and Kelly Nelson.
* Eric-John Niss de Jesus, son of Jessica Blom and Marcos de Jesus.
* Caitlin Oeltjenbruns, daughter of Brian and Lynette Oeltjenbruns.
* Zachary Palm-Khamvongsa, son of Becky and Kham-Ouan Khamvongsa.
* Madelyn Regier, daughter of John and Amy Regier.
* Caleb Rempel, son of Bryan and Carolyn Rempel.
* Austin Rogers, son of Michelle Rogers and Lindy Rogers.
* Jared Saunders, son of Mark and Jill Saunders.
* Brianna Soutthivong, daughter of Lori Braun and Toun Soutthivong.
* Austin Suderman, son of Kerry and Deanna Suderman.
* Hamlet Tanyavong, son of Khamtay and Xoueng Tanyavong.
* Jared Willaby, son of Dean and Stephanie Willaby.
* Jennifer Wright, daughter of Eric and Barrie Wright.
National Honor Society members include Benjamin Grev, Lydia Hildebrandt, Olivia Hopwood, Levi Jahnke, Eric-John Niss de Jesus, Madelyn Regier, Caleb Rempel, Brianna Soutthivong, Jared Willaby and Jennifer Wright.
Following is a photo gallery from the evening’s Commencement celebration:
