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Class of 2009 welcomes ‘excitement of the moment’

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2009 Craig High Graduation

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JANESVILLE — About 451 seniors streamed out of Monterey Stadium on Thursday night, wiping away tears, searching for friends and looking ahead to their “new ocean” after graduation ceremony for Janesville Craig High School.

The senior class motto “We cannot discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore” was brought to life by the graduates clothed in royal blue robes and caps, their tassels a mix of blue and white.

Student speaker Ellen Wanninger urged her classmates to “welcome the excitement of the moment” as they leave the high school, a safe haven during the last four years.

Four years of change

History teacher Ryan Masterson and Wanninger both reminded the students how much has changed since they were born and began their education.

In 1996 and 1997, when the students began kindergarten, Masterson said Nintendo 64 was introduced, the first Harry Potter book was written, the film “Titanic” hit movie theaters and Princess Diana died in a car accident.

“And, yes, the Packers won the Super Bowl,” he added.

Wanninger said they could never have imagined thumbs could be so important for communicating with friends (text messaging) while they were learning to write as young students. In fact, much of the technology they use every day hadn’t even been invented 18 years ago, she said.

“As we can now hold a computer in the palm of our hand, the possibilities of the future are just as much in our grasp,” Wanninger said.

A final lesson

Masterson gave the graduating class three pieces of advice, drawing from his own experience. “I know you’re all resisting the urge to take notes,” he said.

-- Don’t get a perm.

In other words, don’t do something just because it’s popular at the time. “At the time I thought it was cool,” he said. “But it was definitely not.”

-- Keep in touch with your friends, but not only with Facebook.

“I’m talking to you Will Clanfield,” Masterson added, drawing laughter from the students.

-- Go to class.

Masterson said he thought college would be easy his first semester—no attendance, no assignments and only two tests for an entire class.

“Obviously I didn’t do very well,” he said.

Masterson ended his address by encouraging students to work hard in the face of a tough economic climate.

“They say that The Great Depression was even tougher and we call the people who lived through that our greatest generation,” he said. “Rise to the challenge and create your own great generation.”

Heating up

As they gathered on the sunny lawn outside Monterey Stadium before the ceremony, the graduating seniors fanned themselves with their gowns.

“I made a bad call with this long sleeve shirt,” said senior Zach Whalen, wiping his head. “I figured it would be cool by 7.”

“You thought wrong,” said classmate Ryan McCrory.

Whalen’s fellow senior found a way of staying cool in the sun: wearing gym shorts and sandals with his shirt and tie.

“My mom doesn’t know yet,” McCrory said, zipping up his royal blue gown.

Though the evening began with warmer temperatures, the wind picked up as diplomas were handed out.

Entertaining the crowd

Principal Mike Kuehne served as the night’s master of ceremonies cracking jokes each time he stepped to the microphone and berating his own mispronunciations.

Cougar became “crougar,” and banner became “bangler” during the ceremony. Both Kuehne and the audience of graduates and their families chuckled with each misstep.

But he became serious when he encouraged the graduating students to thank everyone that helped them during their education, especially parents and teachers.

“Each of you rests in the shade of those who have supported you,” he said.

Music to their ears

Songs by famous artists and one by a member of the graduating class brought tears from many graduates and other guests at the ceremony.

Student speaker Kallison Sauser used lyrics from John Mayer, Rascal Flatts and Jack Johnson to address her fellow students.

Some songs speak to every graduating class, she said, like Jack Johnson’s lyric “I can change the world with my own two hands.”

“We have to put forth the effort for the changes we wish to see,” Sauser said.

Senior Maxwell Becker arranged a song “If You’re Out There,” that was performed by the school’s a cappella choir during the ceremony.

His lyric “the future started yesterday and we’re already late,” served as the ending to Sauser’s speech.