They entered Oakland University’s O’Rena as high school seniors full of youthful exuberance, confidence and pure joy.
They exited as proud graduates ready to enter colleges and universities, make their mark in the workforce and conquer the world.
‘I see many heroes right here among us,? said Corey Young, co-valedictorian and top scholar for Oxford High School’s Class of 2010. ‘We are sitting here today among future doctors, firefighters, engineers, military service members and one West Point cadet.?
Before an arena packed with family, friends and teachers, a total of 291 OHS seniors received their diplomas during Sunday afternoon’s commencement ceremony in Rochester Hills.
Graduating at the top of their class with perfect 4.0 Grade Point Averages were Young along with his fellow valedictorians Kathleen Brady and Kaitlyn Kimmel.
Each valedictorian offered their own words of wisdom to their fellow graduates as they look toward the future.
‘These should not be the best 13 years of your life,? Young said. ‘That is a pain I would not wish upon any of my enemies. If tests and homework are the best years of your life, then you’ve done something wrong.?
Brady quoted the sage advice of a learned doctor known to all Oxford students ? Dr. Seuss. ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,? she said.
‘As we close the door on our high school careers, there is the feeling that we have finished something important, but now we understand that we have only begun the process of learning and we will continue the pursuit of knowledge for the rest of our lives,? Kimmel said. ‘This may be gaining a degree or it may be gaining an understanding of the people around us. But we will continue to learn new things no matter where life takes us.?
A total of 128 members of the Class of 2010 graduated with some type of academic honors.
Twenty-three students graduated Summa Cum Laude with GPAs ranging from 3.85 to 3.99. Graduating Magna Cum Laude were 35 students with GPAs ranging from 3.50 to 3.849.
Twenty-three students graduated Cum Laude with GPAs between 3.50 and 3.694.
With GPAs spanning 3.30 to 3.49, a total of 44 students graduated with honors.
Graduate Nicholas Hadorn received the greatest honor an OHS student can earn ? the coveted Oxford Cup.
Since 1930, the silver cup’s been awarded annually at commencement to a graduating senior who’s ‘shown the best all-around development.?
Selected by a vote of the junior and senior classes along with the OHS faculty, the winner must exhibit proficiency in scholarship, friendly social qualities, well-balanced physical development and superior school citizenship.
During his high school career, Hadorn proved himself to be the consummate scholar-athlete by earning a total of six varsity letters in wrestling and football while achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.989 allowing him to graduate Summa Cum Laude.
Hadorn will be attending Michigan State University where he will majoring in pre-medicine and chemistry.
Finalists for the Oxford Cup included Alexander Pollack, Mark Hurrish, Rikki Jarvis and Shannon Seeley.