Seventy-five seniors receive diplomas at Red Oak graduation

 Seventy-five seniors walked across the stage and received high school diplomas at Red Oak Community High School on Sunday. 

During the ceremony, a moment of silence was taken for Anne Harter, an English teacher who passed away unexpectedly last Tuesday. 

Grace Blomstedt was named valedictorian for the class of 2015 and Madison Gilbert was named salutatorian. 

Holding back tears. Blomstedt spoke about the loss and heartache the class of 2015 has experienced. They lost one classmate in middle school, one this school year and most recently, a beloved teacher. 

She spoke about how they used each other to make it through the rough times and became stronger as a whole. 

Gilbert’s speech centered around the accomplishments the class of 2015 had made, from athletics to the arts to academics. She said she feels as though she has already met a future Hollywood star, the future president and several rising star athletes. 

After the scholars gave their speeches, music teacher Tim Marsden led a large group of students in a musical presentation, including “We Go Together” from the musical Grease, which student performed earlier this semester. 

Kathy Walker, a senior parent and school board member, gave an inspirational speech after taking a “selfie” with the graduating class. “Your accomplishments, while important, have very little to do with making you a success, “ Walker said. “I know that depends on your definition of success. Like many, I grew up [thinking] money, fame and happiness was success … but as I’ve matured, that’s changed.”

Walker went on to talk about how many things will change as the graduates get older, but not everything will be good. 

“This is a joyous, happy day for all of you. It marks the beginning of a great journey. But life is fluid, it moves. You’ll have days when you can’t wait to get up and walk out into the sunshine and days when you really don’t want to get out of bed.”

Walker told the graduates that fear and determination drive success, so they shouldn’t be afraid to embrace it.

 Following Walker’s speech, ROCHS Principal Jeff Spotts read the names of the 75 graduates as School Board President Lee Fellers presented the diplomas. 

The class colors were orange, black and white. The class flower was an orange rose with a black ribbon. The class motto was “The memories we’ve shared, the times we’ve had together, they will stay with us always –goodbye is not forever.”