43
Austintown superintendent hails Fitch grads as special
Austintown Fitch Commencement
Video
Austintown Fitch 2009 Commencement
Gallery
The 385-member class had six valedictorians and won $5.1M in scholarships.
AUSTINTOWN — Four years ago, Douglas Heuer, superintendent of Austintown Local School District, said he was told that the Fitch High School class of 2009 was “an interesting group.”
As he addressed family and friends gathered for graduation exercises Sunday, Heuer said there is a Chinese blessing, or curse, about “living in interesting times.”
He also used the idea of how the optimist sees a glass as half full, but a pessimist views it as half empty. “It all depends on your perspective,” he said.
Heuer said facts about the class of 2009 include a 98 percent success rate with performance exceeding state standards by 12 percent and members receiving the highest amount of scholarships — some $5.1 million. He said some students have faced health problems and other hardships.
But, Heuer said, they are a class whose members have been a “blessing to the community.” They have collected food and clothing for the needy and taken time to visit veterans and nursing homes. They are involved in the community.
“This is a time of relief and celebration,” Heuer said to the graduates. But he asked them to relish the importance of the moment and “what you have done and what you will do.”
Matthew Nypaver, 2009 class president, said though he’s had a year to write his speech, he improvised and wrote it on the way to graduation. He said though the class is graduating in uncertain economic times, “I know we will be OK, and we’ll change things for the better.”
Nypaver also said he and fellow graduates should remember the “something special and someone special who shaped our lives.”
Brandy Takas, representing Mahoning County Career and Technical Center 2009 graduates from Fitch, said students have learned new skills. Their education will always be a part of who they are because it has “laid the foundation.”
Six valedictorians also gave short speeches.
Jena Baun said the students have been shaped by “defining moments” in academics, athletics and social times such as prom and homecoming. She asked fellow students to “follow your passion and believe you can do it.”
Ashley Guittar said though graduates have “anticipated this day .. it’s one chapter ending and another beginning.” She quoted Helen Keller by saying, “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart.”
Theresa Izzo thanked teachers, family and classmates for the encouragement to hope and dream. She cited part of a quote from Pope John XXIII, “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams.”
Nicholas Mancuso recognized the importance of God in his life. “I wouldn’t be here today,” he said. And, he, like so many other graduates, thanked his parents. “They believed in me when I didn’t,” he said.
Mancuso also took his speech time as an opportunity to ask forgiveness and apologize to those who he might have “crossed.” He urged his fellow graduates to “have faith and finish strong.”
Mark Radetic asked his fellow graduates to “cherish the memories of their time together” even as they looked to another chapter of their lives. “No matter what challenges, we all have the potential to succeed,” he said. He asked graduates to stay determined, never give up and challenge their potential.
Kayla Schindler concluded the valedictorians’ speeches by thanking teaches and families who helped the graduates reach their goals.
Maribeth McGlynn, senior counselor, told graduates that “they did the right thing when no one was watching.” She also noted that the class had garnered some $5.1 million in scholarships.
Lorraine Kreuger, senior counselor, also spoke and noted that students were starting to go out in different directions, but the school was a checkpoint in their lives. She urged them to “share your blessings.”
Principal Doug McGlynn told graduates that “today is not an ending but a new beginning. He used a quote from Benjamin Franklin ... “If you want to touch the past, touch a stone. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.”
Tom Mock, “the voice of the Falcons,” offered welcoming “we’re here to celebrate the lives of 385 graduates” and closing remarks .... “Godspeed, God bless and good luck.”
The graduation exercises also featured “Bitter Sweet,” a selection by Brandy Metzler, senior student composer, and sung by graduating seniors. The students sang of how they were “waiting all our lives for this moment” and how they were “shaped by one another.”
Austintown Fitch High School Class of 2009 | Facts:
Class officers: Matthew Nypaver, president; Nicholas Mancuso, vice president; Nicholas Sanders, secretary; Benjamin Infante, treasurer; and John Lapp, spirit officer.
Graduates: 385 and that number includes 65 honor diploma recipients, 82 Parent-Teacher scholastic banquet honorees, 58 National Honor Society members, 11 students pursuing collegiate athletics, five University of Akron academic scholarships, 12 Kent State University academic scholarships, two Youngstown State University Leslie H. Cochran scholars, seven YSU president’s and deans’ scholarships, two YSU trustees’ scholarships and 19 YSU Red and White scholarships.
Overall scholarships: $5.18 million in college scholarship money has been offered to graduates and $2,250,526 has been accepted.
Local scholarships: Valued at $75,950.
Flower: Lily.
Class song: “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.
Motto: “Those who are different can change the world. Those who are the same keep it that way.”