MATT WILSON walks down center aisle after receiving his diploma during the 2006 Edgewood Senior High graduation Wednesday. DANIEL KRAUS / The Star Beacon
MATTHEW MCCORMACK delivers the student address during the 2006 Edgewood Senior High graduation Wednesday. DANIEL KRAUS / The Star Beacon
JILLIAN MOGA delivers the welcome address during the 2006 Edgewood Senior High graduation Wednesday. DANIEL KRAUS / The Star Beacon
A.J. COLBY, a graduate of the Edgewood 1992 class, gives his commencement address during the 2006 Edgewood Senior High graduation Wednesday. DANIEL KRAUS / The Star Beacon
JACQULINE KOHL delivers her student address during the 2006 Edgewood Senior High graduation Wednesday. DANIEL KRAUS / The Star Beacon
Published June 01, 2006 08:15 am -
Edgewood Senior High School graduates the Class of 2006
Star Beacon
By STACY MILLBERG
Staff Writer
smillberg@starbeacon.com
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP - Parents, friends and guests patiently fanned themselves in the muggy gymnasium as 170 seniors filed in, donning colors of red and gray.
In keeping with tradition, a former Edgewood Senior High School graduate is called upon each year to deliver the commencement address. This year's guest speaker was WKYC Channel 3 meteorologist A.J. Colby. Colby is a 1992 graduate.
As Colby looked out at the sea of audience members frantically trying to keep cool, he jokingly said, "If Mr. (Timothy) Essig would have listened to the Channel 3 forecast, we'd have been outside tonight."
Colby then directed his attention to the graduates, offering them some sound advice as they prepare to embark on the future course that lies before them.
"We all need encouragement," he said. "We all need a pat on the back for our achievements. This is the beginning of that." Colby stressed the importance of setting goals and following through with them. He outlined three key components in achieving those goals: commitment, focus and passion. He also told the seniors to remember always to take responsibility for what is going on.
Colby then shared some personal experiences with them, relating his experiences to issues they may need to overcome.
"Throughout the process, things don't always go as planned," he said. "Life happens."
Colby also offered one of his favorite quotes as advice to the graduates.
"Tough times never last, but tough people do," he said. "Remember, even though today is your graduation day, the true student never graduates. I urge you to commit yourselves to your goals."
Each year, the senior class selects two students to serve as class speakers. This year's speakers were Matthew McCormack and Jacquline Kohl.
McCormack expressed his gratitude to his fellow students for choosing him as one of the speakers. He spoke to his peers about life, relating it to a playground.
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
