PUHI — Walking through the newly built Wilcox gymnasium with its shiny floors and globes of plumeria flowers lining the way, the 24 Island School graduates of 2009 embarked on a new path in their lives. After opening remarks by
PUHI — Walking through the newly built Wilcox gymnasium with its shiny floors and globes of plumeria flowers lining the way, the 24 Island School graduates of 2009 embarked on a new path in their lives.
After opening remarks by head of school Robert Springer, the graduates left the stage to present their parents and caregivers with leis, hugs and words of thanks in the audience, as Bob Marley’s “One Love” played in the background.
Each beaming graduate in their blue gowns then returned to the stage and presented a speech they had prepared for the ceremony. Many speeches were filled with tears and words of thanks to all who have supported them with their education.
“Thank you for shoving and pushing me to my limits,” said graduate Jesse Brown-Clay to his family during his speech.
Brown-Clay spent most his senior year abroad in India and South America earning college level study. His father, Brian Clay, a volunteer at Island School for 16 years, smiled in the audience.
“Thank you for never giving up on me even when I give up on myself,” said graduate Taylor Gibson in her speech, who plans to attend Kaua‘i Community College and prepare for a college on the Mainland to pursue dance.
In addition to preparing their graduation speech, each senior took on a senior project of their choice. In its fourth year at Island School, the senior project program includes a formal academic study followed by a presentation. The projects of 2009 ranged from graduate Ron O’Brien’s cultivating taro and sustainability on Kaua’i, to Julie Blachowiak’s rap music as a form of protest, to Carly Snyder’s adequate care for AIDS orphans.
After the student presentations, awards were given for special achievements. In place of one valedictorian, Island School acknowledged five graduates who earned a 3.5 grade point average or better.
The “Board of Directors” award for scholarship, leadership and concern for others went to Kariann Lee. Lee is attending the University of Puget Sound in Washington and plans on studying social work, Chinese and elementary education.
The “Head of School” award was given to Marty Whitney and Ryan Bender for taking advantage of all Island School has to offer. Whitney, who read Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” in her speech, is heading to Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, where she plans to “study a little bit of everything.” Bender, the prom king of 2009, starts college at New York University in the fall.
The “Founder’s Spirit” award, created by the seven women who founded Island School, was given to Jessica Duarte and Adel Cardoso for caring about others, being team players, creative and inspiring, and showing good will and good humor, even in the “face of adversity.”
Sprawling from Kaua‘i Community College to California to the Midwest and East Coast, every graduate is heading off to college in the fall, announced Joan Shaw, assistant head of the school.
After tossing their hats into the air as the ceremony ended, graduates, families and friends poured out on to the lawn outside at dusk to give and receive leis and love.
“Graduation is not the end, it’s only the beginning,” Samantha Martinez said to the filled auditorium in her speech.
