40-member MLHS Class of 2014 . . .

Is ‘off to great places;’ is ‘off and away’

“You have brains in your head.

“You have feet in your shoes

“You can steer yourself

“any direction you choose.”

Commencement speaker for the Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) Class of 2014, Mitchell Schroeder, quoted the good doctor – the late “Dr. Seuss” – from book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,!”  as a send-off message to the 40 class members.

The 110th MLHS Commencement Exercises were held Friday evening, May 16, in the school auditorium.

Schroeder, a 2003 grad of MLHS, a 2007 graduate of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, and now a loan officer at United Prairie Bank in Mountain Lake, used the lines from Dr. Seuss to assess – and stress – to the graduating seniors all they already have – and all that lay ahead of them. “Where do you see yourself in 10 years? How do you get there?” Schroeder questioned the students.

“Whether you are going on to further education, into the work force or entering the military, oh, the places you’ll go – if you’re willing to work for them. Life is a balancing act. You have choices to make. It’s important to step outside your comfort zone. The risks are worth it – even if they don’t always lead to success as you see it.”

“Congratulations!

“Today is your day.”

Schroeder extended to the soon-to-be alumni.

“And then,” Schroeder emphasized, ‘You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!'”

Responding for the class was Christian Pfeiffer, Class President. Pfeiffer stated that his main job was to provide the audience with a better understanding of his class – member-by-member. He noted that, “We have a remarkably-balanced array of talents and personalities in our class – the Class of 2014.”

The Senior High Band presented the prelude and the traditional processional, “Pomp and Circumstance,” as well as the selection, “Havendance,” by David R. Holsinger. Kurt Jahnke is the band director.

The Senior High Choir, under the direction of Andrea Brinkman, shared the number, “Another Bridge to Cross,” by Carl Strommen, while all members of the senior class – which together created the Senior Choir – presented “Lean on Me,” by Bill Wirthers/GLEE, with arrangement by Adam Anders and Tim Davis.

In addition to Pfeiffer, Andrew Hempeck, Senior Class Secretary/Treasurer, shared Words of Inspiration, while Mikayla Falk, Class Vice-President, introduced the Commencement speaker.

Deborah Wallert of the Mountain Lake Scholarship Program presented scholarships to seniors, and Shawn Naas awarded the “Bradley Behrends Memorial Scholarship” and the “Ellyn Quiring Memorial Scholarship.”

High School Principal Pamela Anderson presented the graduating class to the audience. Douglas Standerwick, Chair of the Mountain Lake Public School Board of Education, awarded the diplomas, and were congratulated by Mountain Lake Public School Superintendent Bill Strom.

The new MLHS alumni exited the auditorium to their recessional selection, “Hall of Fame,” by The Script.

The Class Motto selected by the seniors is: “Our lives are before us, our pasts are behind us, but our memories are forever with us.”

Class Colors are the traditional Maroon-and-Silver.

Senior Class Advisors include faculty members Brenda Feil, Shawn Naas and Kim Syverson.

Fifteen members of the class earned the distinction of being named an Honor Student. In order to achieve this honor, students must have maintained a 3.0 or “B” average in their high school years in all classes taken.

This year’s Honor Students, listed alphabetically, are:

* Rachel Dukes, daughter of Douglas and Martha Standerwick.

* Anna Engstrom, daughter of John and Tamara Engstrom.

* Mikayla Falk, daughter of Larry and Julie Falk.

* Brooke Fast, daughter of Curtis and Tammy Fast.

* Joshua Fast, son of Thomas and Marilyn Fast.

* Zachariah Fredericksen, son of Jeffrey and Heather Fredericksen.

* Joshua Grev, son of David and Kendra Grev.

* Andrew Hempeck, son of Larry and Jody Hempeck.

* Andrew Hirsch, son of Alan and Wendy Hirsch.

* Carter Kirk, son of Timothy and Sheila Kirk.

* Cheyenne Narber, daughter of Valerie Henao.

* Christian Pfeiffer, son of Wade and Janese Pfeiffer.

* Hannah Stoesz, daughter of Jerome and Marilyn Stoesz.

* Jordan Syverson, daughter of Steven and Kim Syverson.

*Aracely Zarate, daughter of Aracely Sifuentes.

Nine students were also recognized as National Honor Society members. These include Anna Engstrom, Mikayla Falk, Brooke Fast, Joshua Fast, Joshua Grev, Andrew Hempeck, Andrew Hirsch, Christian Pfeiffer and Jordan Syverson.

 

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MOVING ON FROM high school means leaving behind underclass friends – and moving ahead to new worlds – a bittersweet moment on graduation night. Above, mom Julie Falk takes a photo of 2014 Mountain Lake Public High School soon-to-be graduates Brooke Fast, left and her daughter, Mikayla Falk, second from right, posing with friends Signey Stoesz, second from left and Lydia Hildebrandt, right.

 

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ANDREW HEMPECK, LEFT, receives graduation congratulations from the 2014 Commencement speaker, Mitchell Schroeder, right. This Wolverine boys basketball season, Hempeck broke Schroeder’s assist record during a Monday, January 13 game on the St. James hard court. Hempeck went into the game needing two to tie – and three to surpass – Schroeder’s previous varsity record of 401 assists. Hempeck went on to add more assist numbers to his new record.

 

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HUGS AND HOORAYS! Classmates Anita Xaykosy, left and Jenna Molitor, right, celebrate the moments before graduation ceremonies began.

 

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THE SENIOR CLASS Choir sang “Lean On Me” during Commencement exercises – but even prior to the ceremony – the graduating seniors were taking that to heart. Above, Alex Gerdes, right, assists classmate Demar Rodney, left, in straightening his necktie.

 

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A PRE-COMMENCEMENT refreshment – an Arnold Palmer half iced-tea, half-lemonade – and strawberry at that – is “savored” by Zachariah Fredericksen. Fredericksen, along with another graduating senior, Jonathan Narber, will soon become United States Marines.

 

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GRADUATING SENIORS JOINED their fellow Senior High Band members – and Director Kurt Jahnke – for one final selection – “Havendance” by David R. Holsinger. From left to right, on saxophone, Jordan Syverson and Brooke Fast, and on trombone, Andrew Hirsch and Tylor Duerksen. Behind is underclasswoman, Brianna Jensen.

 

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COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER MITCHELL Schroeder makes a point during his message to the graduating senior class.

 

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MOM LYNN BRANDT records the Senior High Choir in performance of “Another Bridge to Cross” by Carl Strommen on her iPad from her seat in the auditorium. Daughter – and 2014 grad – Caitlin Brandt – was singing with the choir.

 

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DIRECTOR ANDREA BRINKMAN led the senior class members in the Senior Choir’s farewell song, “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers/GLEE, arranged by Adam Anders and Tim Davis.Front, from left, Aracely Zarate, Caitlin Brandt, Baily Koch, Cheyenne Narber, Myra Garcia and Elizabeth Hofmann. Second row, from left, Dianamaria Garcia, Anita Xaykosy, Jenna Molitor, Anna Engstrom, Hannah Stoesz, Maggie Wahdan, Mikayla Falk, Brooke Fast, Jordan Syverson and Rachel Dukes. Third row, from left, Anthony Sayachack, Hunter Quiring, Brian Zschetzsche, Jonathan Narber, Viljar Ness, Austin Watkins, Christian Pfeiffer, Levi Kass, David Hernandez and Joshua Grev. Back, from left, Joshua Fast, Andrew Hempeck, Zachary Dickens, Alex Gerdes, Demar Rodney, Jose Gonzalez, Carter Kirk, Levi Blahnik, Vincent Johnson, Tylor Duerksen, Andrew Hirsch and Zachariah Fredericksen.

 

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MOUNTAIN LAKE PUBLIC School Superintendent Bill Strom, seated right, is amused by comments made by Class President Christian Pfeiffer, during his Response.

 

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ZACHARY DICKENS, LEFT, receives a congratulatory handshake from Mountain Lake Public School Superintendent Bill Strom, right, after being handed his diploma.

 

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SMILES AND CONGRATS. Alex Gerdes, left, is congratulated by Mountain Lake Public School Superintendent Bill Strom, right.

 

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JOSHUA GREV, LEFT, accepts his diploma from Mountain Lake Public School Board of Education Chair Douglas Standerwick, right. Behind is Grev’s fellow class member, David Hernandez.

 

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ELIZABETH HOFMANN, LEFT, looks Mountain Lake Public School Board of Education Chair Douglas Standerwick, right, in the eye as he hands her the hard-worked-for document.

 

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RACHEL DUKES, LEFT, looks up at Tylor Duerksen, left, out of the corner of her eye as he moves swiftly to change the tassel on his mortarboard from high school student to alumnus. Behind, Joshua Fast does the same.

 

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AS HE EXITS the auditorium following the graduation ceremony to The Script’s “Hall of Fame,” Levi Kass, right, spies his mother, Dana Kass, left, with an aisle-side seat – and the pair prep for a well-deserved “High Five.”

 

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CLUTCHING HER DIPLOMA with of her hands, Baily Koch leaves the stage as a Mountain Lake Public School alumna.

 

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ARACELY ZARATE, NOW a high school graduate – and soon to be a member of the United States Army – walks with confidence into her future.

 

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A DIPLOMA – AND a hug. New graduate Dianamaria Garcia relishes both following the ceremony.

 

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CARTER KIRK, RIGHT, gives a “big bear hug” to Mountain Lake Public High School English teacher Kim Syverson, left.

 

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CREDITING HIS SUCCESS to his mom. New graduate Levi Blahnik, left, gets a hug from his mom, Angie Dick, right, after he handed her his high school diploma.

 

 

 

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