McDonald graduates look forward to future

By Sean Barron

Making society a better is a measure of success, Youngstown’s mayor said.

MCDONALD — For Joseph M. Bobby II, this summer will mean a bit of fishing and time with family and friends, as well as the beginning of a yearlong stay in Brazil as a foreign exchange student.

“I plan to relax, learn Portuguese … and try to figure out what to do with the rest of my life,” Bobby, one of 70 members of the McDonald High School Class of 2008, said after Sunday’s commencement in the school auditorium.

Why Brazil?

“It has a laid-back community and I figure I’ll fit in pretty well,” Bobby said, adding that his long-term goals are to get into the entertainment or broadcasting field and enter the Peace Corps.

Earning a degree in accounting from Youngstown State University and becoming a certified public accountant are the ambitions of Pete Sudol Jr., whose parents and younger siblings saw him receive his diploma. In the meantime, Sudol, who’s a big Cleveland Indians fan, said he hopes to attend a few games and find summer work.

Giving the commencement address was Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, who graduated from high school in 1989 in Youngstown.

Leaving high school will mean the graduates will go from having — for the most part — others’ guidance in making choices to being responsible for defining and achieving their own success, Williams said. While there’s no single way to succeed, it’s imperative that the graduates stay true to their values and principles while working toward making a positive impact in the lives of others, he continued.

“One measure of success is to leave your segment of society a little better off than you found it,” the mayor added.

Williams implored the class to look beyond negative reports about the country’s tough economy and to realize that their societal contributions post high school should extend beyond their chosen fields.

The class included 18 students who were National Honor Society members. A total of $662,373 worth of scholarships was given.

The hourlong program also included remarks from Principal John Larocca, Superintendent Michael Wasser and several valedictorians.

Musical selections featured performances by the McDonald High School band as well as the singing of “Amazing Grace” and other selections by members of the senior choir. Also played was a musical tribute to jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong that included “Hello Dolly,” “What a Wonderful World” and other hits .

he made famous.