SHS sends 140 graduates on their way
FARMER’S KORNER – Coined the “9-11 generation” by salutatorian Erin Young, 140 Summit High School graduates grasped their degrees and marched into the world Saturday with advice to serve others, question authority and go easy on credit cards.
Ceremonies were conducted inside the Tiger gym at the high school before the usual packed house of family, friends and educators.
Young recounted the Class of 2003’s living through the Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine High School killings and, finally, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
She said the events of 9-11 “will haunt us and guide us.”
“We are the 9-11 generation. Just as we know the hippies and the baby boomers, the future will know us,” Young said. “Your Class of 2003 will change the world.”
Valedictorian Matt Keeling picked up the oratorical baton and urged his classmates to reject the corporate mindset, consumerism and TV. He appealed to his classmates to take charge of their lives and work for good.
“We truly live in the greatest country in the world. Take advantage of that and make it a greater country,” Keeling said.
Keeling quoted consumer and social change advocate Ralph Nader, who he said sees America plagued by issues of poverty, bigotry and apathy. America possesses the power to change all of that but chooses not to, Keeling said.
Keeling laid the blame at the foot of corporate America and a citizenry enslaved by TV, endless advertisements and “jingles burned into our brains.”
“We have become good, unquestioning consumers,” Keeling said.
He said Nader’s solution is for people to learn to be civil.
In a civil world, people won’t merely “express love for” their country but will “truly love it, be active and make it a better place,” Keeling said.
He told his classmates to speak up on their issues and to learn the facts, beyond those given in the everyday news cycles. He said people should question authority at every level.
Television is an enemy to civil society, Keeling said. He urged classmates not to waste five hours a day in front of the tube.
“Turn off the TV, and throw it out the window. Pick up a book,” Keeling said.
He cautioned classmates they have only 15,000 days to change the world, between now and retirement at age 65.
Keeling said debt and consumerism are twin evils.
“Don’t be mindless consumers,” he said, adding that debt is a way to keep people down, and possessions are a carrot encouraging debt.
Continuing his financial advice, he decried credit cards and urged classmates not to buy more than they can afford.
The guest speaker at Saturday’s ceremony was Michael Carricarte Jr., a Summit County second homeowner whose primary home is in Miami. Carricarte runs an insurance business, but his real passion is working with an inner city school in Miami.
Carricarte addressed the importance of failure and the greatest work of all – serving others.
Carricarte, a graduate of the Harvard Business School, noted that 50 percent of the school’s graduates fail at a business in their first year of trying. Yet the one thing the school doesn’t teach is how to deal with failure, he said.
“Embrace failure. It is a very important part of life,” Carricarte said. “Those who embrace failure have a much smoother ride and don’t hit bottom as hard.”
He cited the long-time failings of treasure hunter Mel Fisher, who finally hit paydirt, but only after five bankruptcies, two failed marriages and other tragedies.
Carricarte picked up on themes expressed by Young and Keeling – that the graduates are the instruments of change.
“A true mission and purpose in life has to do with serving others,” said Carricarte, who tutors and works with an inner-city grade school. He formed the Miami Inner City Angels group, which has assisted 1,000 students to date from preschool to eighth grade.
“I believe you are all here to make a difference. You are the future,” Carricarte said. “What makes a difference is how you will serve each other.”
Carricarte said real satisfaction in life comes from service, not the name under a title or the size of a bank account.
“The only thing that lasts is our investment in people and their souls,” the insurance executive said. “Money is an important piece of the pie, but how big a piece do you want it to be?”
Carricarte said his social work gives him perspective on his own problems, an appreciation for a higher power – no matter what one may call his or her god – and satisfaction in knowing he is making a difference.
“To me, that is what life is really all about,” Carricarte said.
With that said, the graduates were given their diplomas. By a vote of the students, teachers Scott Porter, Jennifer Carlson, Denise Oaks-Moffat and Karl Barth were given the honor of reading the names.
Jim Pokrandt can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 227, or jpokrandt@summitdaily.com.
Summit High School class of 2003:
National Honor Society (N)
Spanish Honor Society (S)
French Honor Society (F)
PollyDay Liddle Abernathy
Michael Leonard Allard
Casey Wynn Anderson
Lance Leroy Avey
Joseph Edward Baldwin
Tina Marie Barrientez
Nathan Hamilton Bastiaans
Yesenia Becerril ( F)
Kate Allison Becker (N,S)
Beau Pollock Beling
Chad Allen Blackman
Justin Paul Blincoe
Aaron McGuire Bork
Miles Myer Bradford
Kathryn Margaret Breslin
Gretta Isabelle Brown
Jason Robert Buckley
Jeffrey Matthew Buckley
Kevin Robert Bums
James Anthony Canepa
JacklynAlexis Chambers
Sze Wai Cheung
Tracy Rae Church
Ann-Marie Elizabeth Clancy
Ryan Tyler Clift
Eric Ross Cobb
Lauren Suzanne Cole
James Lee Condon
Gilberto Alfonso Corral
ElizabethAnne Crandall
Keegan Lee Cropper
Jennifer Louise Davenport
Kyle Cochran Davis
Joshua Eugene Dayton (S)
Wendolina de Miranda
Cole F. Denckla
Cody Joe Dobbs
Parker Sargeant Downs
Aurora Ebert-Santos
Jennifer Marie Estes
Guilherme Bezerra Esteves
Dolly Keala Fiedelman
Joshua John Fields
Cameron Patrick Finn
Jacy Marie Folkers
Jared Mackenzie Freeman
Sarah Kathryn George (F)
Jessica Nichol Glynn (N)
Miguel Gomez Sanchez
Iraida Yadira Gutierrez
Peter David Haire
Kelsey Rae Hamilton
Sarah Danielle Hamilton
Justin Todd Heck
Todd Alexander Heller
Heather Nicole Hildreth
Allison Grace Hill (N)
Kelsey Anne Hodson
Lindsey Jean Holden
Leslie Nicole Hopp
Daniel John Hren
Kendra Beth Huenneke ( F)
Steve Hui
Quetzal Tonatiuh Infante Avina
Jorge Infante
Christopher Alexander Jocelyn
Timothy Coughlin Jungman
Heather Rene Kanski
Matthew Kridel Keeling (N,S)
Daniel Evan Kincaid
Stacy Dawn King
Alexandra Lisa Kokot
Michael Thomas Koop (N)
Hannah Marie Kopicky
James Brian Lindblom (S)
Cristina Lopez-Morales
Kyle Haverton Lord
Shabree Donnmary Lord
Ana Carlo Lujan-Nanez
Jeffrey Thomas Lunceford
Jordan Phelps Lynch
Rachel Rose Maike
Conor Keith McGahey
Skylar Jon Memsic
Hampton Charles Meyer
Justine Nicole Meyers
Garrett C. Miller
Kelly Elizabeth Moles
Aaron Michael Nelson
Sara Brady Nelson
Ryan Jay Norton
Gregory Jay Nowaczyk
Andreas Grant Pannke
Elizabeth Rose Pansing
Dixa Marlene Patino
David Arthur Payne
Taryn Elizabeth Power
Halston Blair Lowrance-Puchek
Christmas Rose Ramirez
Ashley Ann Reavis
John Arthur Rutter
Travis Paul Shackelford
Christopher Michael Shult (N)
Claudia Sigala Felix
Ryan Patrick Silven
Kyle E. Smith
Diana Jackelyn Smithwick
Claudia Krystyna Sobiecki
Melanie Anne South
Kinga Katarzyna Sowa
Nicole Kira Splettstosser
Jackson Ernest St. John
Crystal Dinae Starling
David Scott Sustad
Stephanie Marie Swanson
Terese Danielle Swartz (F)
Ashley Erin Thompson
Brittany Lea Todd
Vail Alana Tucker
Ana Lilia Valenzuela Ibarra
James Rellendale Vaughn, III
Matthew Glenn Vawter-Beaird
GermanVelasquez
Seth James Walsh
Sarah Marie Walton
Kristin Lynn Wanamaker
Isabel Beatrice Warpecha
Todd Alan Wegner
Kevin Andrew West
Jonathan Andrew Wheeler
Alan David Widdifield
Sharon Melissa Wilkinson
Joshua Chad Williamson
Charles Andrew Willis
Carly Ann Wilson
Gary Michael Wilson
Colin Michael Wyatt
Nicole Lynn Yessak
Erin Morrissey Young (N;S)
Raymond Michael Zakahi (F)
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