Class efforts, deeds lauded
KARNS CITY — Members of the Karns City High School class of 2017 supported each other all the way to graduation day.
Students and school district administration remarked how helpful the graduates had been to one another throughout their time together during Tuesday's graduation ceremony at the high school.
“Whether they realize it or not, they have served as role models for their underclassmen and have been friends and supporters for each other,” Eric Ritzert, Karns City School District superintendent, said in a speech during the ceremony.
Before the ceremony, multiple students shared Ritzert's sentiment.
James Claypoole, 18, said “working together as a team,” particularly with school work, defines his class.
Claypoole plans to attend Butler County Community College in the fall and major in music education.
“It's actually great,” he said. “I can go on and have a bright future, and help others with higher education.”
Deanna Best, who also will attend Butler County Community College and study to be a Microsoft specialist, also noted the class as tight-knit.
“We stick together as a group,” said Best, 18. “We help each other out.”
Best said she had “ups and downs” in high school, but never let it affect her spirit. She recalled the class trip to Cedar Point as her favorite high school memory.
Lindsey Duespohl, 18, was in concurrence with her classmates, and said that whenever a difficult situation arose, the class found a way to handle it. Duespohl will attend Great Lakes Institute of Technology in Erie in the fall.
Principal Ed Conto noted the class' accomplishments, which included a school-record seven District 9 sports titles this year. Karns City won titles in football, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, cheerleading and softball.
Conto said that 99 percent of the class graduated. There were 123 who walked at the ceremony and 127 total graduates.
Student Chloe Myers spoke multiple times at the ceremony.
“We have our whole lives ahead of us,” she said. “We cannot rely on someone else to make our decisions for us.”
Noah Pollock jokingly compared high school to a circus in his speech, saying that the students have acts such as the school musical, they have class clowns, and they juggle multiple tasks at once.
He said the experience helped the graduates mature.
“If I ran the circus, I would not change a thing,” he said.
Speaker Alison Boltz reflected on how fortunate she said the class was, particularly in going to a smaller school.
“We have the ability to get to know the teachers, and they get to know the students,” she said.
The family of Briggs Buck, who died in an ATV accident in February 2015 during his sophomore year, accepted a diploma on his behalf.
Buck's brother, Levi Buck, said the experience was tough, but he was grateful for it.
“I'm glad I got to do it,” he said.
