MLHS Commencement Speaker Andrea Brinkman shares applicable morals to life from each
In her Commencement Address to the Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) Class of 2016, Keynote Speaker Andrea Brinkman, Vocal Music Instructor at MLHS, passed on the legend of the ninja, the honey badger and the Sasquatch to the graduates, with the idea that, “I think there may be some morals to life that could be applied as one sees fit.”
“Sometimes you have to be the ninja. You’ve got to fight for yourself, or stand up for what is right. That can be hard, and you may have to do it alone. But, before you engage in battle – figuratively speaking – I caution you to ask yourself: ‘Is this crusade worth fighting for? Is it worth putting yourself out on a limb for?’ If the answer is undoubtedly ‘Yes,’ then do it – and do it with all your might,” she shared.
Brinkman added, “It might do us all a bit of good to find our ‘inner honey badger.’ To not care so much of what the world around us thinks. How free would you be if you were truly in that place? How good for your soul? People say they don’t care all the time; but it’s hardly ever true. I mean – really true. So the next time you are fretting over someone else, worrying about what others think or social media – ask yourself if it is worth the time and energy you are spending on that. Channel the honey badger that allows you to be you – and not apologize it.”
And then, sometimes, she noted, “It is wise to sit back, observe, stay quiet – and just be. Like the Sasquatch, you do not always have to be seen or heard to make your presence known. Sometimes quiet is a force of its own. There is so much noise in the world, and clutter in our heads – that finding peace and tranquility may be challenging – but, doing so may be the best thing for you.”
The 112th Commencement Ceremony for the 38-member MLHS Class of 2016, held Friday evening, May 27 in the Mountain Lake Public School auditorium, opened with the traditional processional for the graduates, “Pomp and Circumstance,” as presented by the Senior High Band under the baton of Instrumental Music Director Kurt Jahnke. The band – with its senior class members performing along for the final time – also presented the selection, “Best Day of My Life,” arranged by James Kazik.
The Class of 2016 Secretary/Treasurer Carmen Syverson opened the ceremony with Words of Inspiration.
Michaele Cate, Senior Class Vice-President introduced Speaker Brinkman.
Members of the Senior High Choir, under the lead of Vocal Music Director Andrea Brinkman, shared the number, “We Can Dream,” by Pinkzebra, with members of the Class of 2016 joining together on another Pinkzebra song, “We Won’t Stop Dreaming.”
MLHS Science Teacher Jaime Banks presented scholarships to graduates on behalf of the Mountain Lake Area Scholarship Program, while Paul Metcalf awarded the “Bradley Behrends Memorial Scholarship” to a trio from the Class of 2016, Signey Stoesz, Carmen Syverson and Ryan McCue.
Pamela Anderson, MLHS High School Principal, presented the class for graduation, followed by Senior Class President Ashley Watkins with the Class Response. Watkins extolled the attributes of her classmates – and looked into the future, imagining the Class of 2016’s class reunions. In closing, Watkins reflected back to the students’ early elementary years, sharing some words of insight from A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and loved more than you know.”
The class selected as its Class Motto the quote, Our lives are before us, our pasts are behind us, but our memories are forever with us. The Class Colors are also traditionally the School Colors – maroon and silver.
Following the awarding of diplomas by Mountain Lake Public School Board Director Chad Pedersen and Clerk Julie Brugman, along with Mountain Lake Public School Superintendent Bill Strom, the students – now MLHS alumni – exited the auditorium to the recessional, “It’s Time,” by Imagine Dragons.
Serving as Junior Class usherettes and ushers were Kenna Gardiner, Meredith Suess, Thomas Kraemer and Jacob Suess.
The stage flowers were courtesy of the MLHS Advanced Horticulture Class.
Below is a photo gallery of the Class of 2016’s final moments as seniors – and beginning point as alumni:
TIME FOR A triple selfie. From left, Christopher “Chris” Boyd, Saykone Tiger Sengmany and Michayla Stewart.
RETIRING MLHS INDUSTRIAL Technology Instructor (and annual advisor) Donna Peterson, left, snaps a shot for the annual of graduating senior Signey Stoesz, flanked on one side by her dad, Mike Stoesz, and on the other side by her mom, Sonja Stoesz.
TIBURCIO “TIBBY” ESTRADA is set for graduation evening with his cap and gown – along with maroon-and-silver 2016 tassel – and his class ring.
GETTING THE GIRLS together for one final pre-Commencement photo op. From left, Carly Paulson, Chanah Brandt, Breanna Lidtke, Tara Fast and Bailey Leaman.
COULD THIS BE squad goals? From left, Carly Fast, Taylor Kass, Nicole Rahn, Saykone Tiger Sengmany, Akin Tema-Lopez, Ethan Karschnik, Alexis Alvarado and Jose Sanchez.
GREAT-GRANDMA VIOLA Watkins, center, came to Mountain Lake from her home in Comfrey for an evening of celebration because she had two (2) grandchildren as members of the Class of 2016. At left, Ashley Watkins and at right, her cousin, Adam Watkins.
THE HONOR STUDENTS of the Class of 2016. Front, from left, Carly Fast, Alexa Heffele, Tara Fast, Norberto “Tony” Orea Morales, Breanna Lidtke, Carmen Syverson and Ashley Watkins. Back, from left, Akin Tema-Lopez, Chanah Brandt, Bailey Leaman, Alexis Jellema-Baerg, Adam Watkins, Ryan McCue, Derrick Willaby, Signey Stoesz, Carly Paulson and Alexander “Alex” Dunker.
THESE SIX MEMBERS of the MLHS Class of 2016 were recognized as part of the National Honor Society. From left, Chanah Brandt, Akin Tema-Lopez, Ryan McCue, Signey Stoesz, Carmen Syverson and Ashley Watkins.
SENIORS “HUDDLE UP” around Class Advisor (and MLHS Social Studies Instructor) Shawn Naas, as he gives pre-Commencement instructions. Other Senior Class Advisors are MLHS English Teachers Kim Syverson and Brenda Feil.
TARA FAST PLAYS her flute one last time as a member of the Senior High Band on the song, “Best Day of My Life,” arranged by James Kazik. Instrumental Music Director is Kurt Jahnke.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER – AND MLHS Vocal Music Instructor – Andrea Brinkman, handed down to the graduates the legend of the ninja, the honey badger and the Sasquatch (each with their own morals to life).
THE SENIOR HIGH Choir, led by Vocal Music Instructor Andrea Brinkman, presented the selection, “We Can Dream,” by Pinkzebra. Ryan McCue, center right, was featured with a solo, and Signey Stoesz, center left, accompanied the choir on acoustic guitar, and also had a vocal soloist. Piano accompanist was MLHS Instrumental Music Instructor Kurt Jahnke.
THE SENIOR CLASS came together as one to present the number, “We Won’t Stop Dreaming,” by Pinkzebra. Front, from left, Signey Stoesz on acoustic guitar, Bailey Leaman as piano accompaniment, Director Brinkman and Akin Tema-Lopez on electric bass guitar. Second row, from left, Luke Rogers, Chanah Brandt, Michaela Cate, Carmen Syverson, Tara Fast, Ashley Watkins, Chuntana Sayavong, Taylor Kass, Alexis Alvarado and Breanna Lidtke. Third row, from left, Michayla Stewart, Annie Hanson, Nicole Rahn, Carly Fast, Alexa Heffle, Tiburcio “Tibby” Estrada, Alexia Jellema-Baerg, Saykone Tiger Sengmany, Alexander “Alex” Dunker, Christopher “Chris” Boyd, Alex Tabongphet, Leonardo Zarate, Norberto “Tony” Orea Morales, Ryan McCue and Ben Dalton. Back, from left, Dylan Hanson, Ian Glassic, Samuel “Sam” Xayanourom, Christian Voshage Hampel, Ethan Karschnik, Adam Watkins, Jose Sanchez, Derrick Willaby and Codey Hayes.
ALEXA HEFFELE, LEFT, is congratulated by Mountain Lake Public School Superintendent Bill Strom, right.
RECEIVING HIS DIPLOMA from Chad Pedersen, Mountain Lake Public School Board Director, right, is Akin Tema-Lopez, left.
NICOLE RAHN, LEFT and Michaela Cate, right, are anxious to get moving on the recessional.
A PROUD CHRISTIAN Voshage Hampel exits the stage and auditorium to Imagine Dragons’ “It’s Time.”
“HIGH FIVE” BETWEEN classmates; Derrick Willaby, left and Taylor Kass, right.
GRANDPA ERLAND BRAUN, left, worked his way through the line of graduates to find and congratulate his grandson, Samuel “Sam” Xayanourom, right.
A BIG HUG for Christopher “Chris” Boyd, right, from MLHS English Instructor and Senior Class Advisor Kim Syverson, left.
THE GRADUATES GATHER ’round “the bell” (preserved from the bell tower of the 1898 building) on the front lawn of the high school in order to ring up “16” – and announce to the town that they are now MLHS alumni.
THE MLHS CLASS of 2016 placed the final exclamation point on their Commencement Ceremony with the traditional toss into the air of their mortarboards.
ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, the last day of school at Mountain Lake Public School, the seniors of the Class of 2016 did a walk-through in cap and gown through the halls of the elementary school following their Commencement rehearsal. The meet-and-greet was a day to show the young students what they, too, have the ability to achieve. Above, A special moment of the walk-through happened when Dylan Hanson, right, scooped up his sister, Bryn Bell, left, into his arms. (Photo courtesy of Christina Hanson)
