Commencement exercises for the Greene County High School class of 2015 were held Sunday afternoon at the middle school gymnasium. Greene County board of education president Ashley Johnston presented diplomas to 80 graduates.
Following tradition, class president Dan Neal made brief comments. He noted that he and his classmates have been given an education and the tools to succeed, and he suggested, “Let’s not be the generation that is remembered as being too busy texting, tweeting and snapchatting to notice that we need to do something about clean water.”
Speaker was retired businessman and community volunteer Don Orris. He told the students that education is the key to their future, and that it might not be a 4-year college education but another option. He reminded students of the freedom they have. “In the U.S. you have the freedom to succeed and the freedom to fail. It’s in your hands. You decide what it’s going to be,” Orris said.
He suggested graduates do six things: become physically strong; figure out what makes you smile and do those things on a regular basis, and find an occupation that blends those things together; do something special for others while expecting nothing in return; believe in yourself; volunteer in every good cause you believe in; and push yourself past failure.
Hannah Onken was named class valedictorian; Kayla Youngblood was named class salutatorian. Onken plans to attend Wartburg College and major in business administration, while Youngblood plans to attend Iowa State University and major in engineering. Pictured are school superintendent Tim Christensen, Johnston, Onken, Youngblood, and high school principal Brian Phillips.
