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Commencement speaker YSU President says characteristics of gratitude and selflessness are critical to success
LOWELLVILLE
Advice for the future came in fours for Lowellville High School’s Class of 2016 on Sunday afternoon during the school’s 127th annual commencement ceremony.
During his commencement address in Paul V. Johnson Gymnasium, Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel gave the graduates four words to live by: gratitude, friends, finances and selflessness, the last of which he said is the most important.
Tressel said gratitude is one of the main characteristics he has seen in people who succeed.
“Whatever you choose to do in the future, it won’t be without its challenges. But, an ‘attitude of gratitude’ about parents, teachers and educational opportunities will help you reach your full potential,” he told the Class of 2016’s 54 members.
“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future,” Tressel said.
“A friend is someone you can trust to tell you the truth. You need to do a great job of selecting friends, and you need to be the person other people would benefit from having you as a friend,” he said.
It’s important to become financially literate and learn about their impact on lives. Those who do are better able to take the next step to reach their goals, Tressel said.
But, most important is selflessness, he said.
“A selfless person puts his family or team or organization first,” Tressel said.
After Tressel’s remarks, the Class of 2016 salutatorian and valedictorians spoke to their classmates.
Salutatorian Jessica Millette said high moral values and ethics are vital in making decisions.
“Having good character holds us accountable for our actions,” Jessica said.
Valedictorian Courtney Conklin spoke about the value of confidence.
“No matter where your self-confidence comes from, you’ll be able to take it with you and act on your goals without fear of failure. Confidence may come from not being afraid to be wrong,” she said.
Valedictorian Rafael Cruz III, speaking on legacy, said he hopes he will be remembered at Lowellville High School as a hard-working student.
George Huncik, another of the Class of 2016’s four valedictorians, spoke about persistence.
“My class embodied the word. The students of Lowellville High School are successful because they do what they don’t have to do,” he said.
Principal Christine Sawicki reminded the graduates that receiving their diplomas was a turning point in their lives, but also told them they will be “missed by all of us here.”
“You are such a talented group of individuals who have incredible academic achievements, passions for the arts and many successes in athletics.
But, Sawicki said, “what stood out to me the most about this class is the leadership, cohesiveness, camaraderie and caring that you displayed every single day.”
The gymnasium was filled with proud parents, family and friends.
Among them were some 25 of Rafael’s family and friends, including his parents, the Rev. Rafael and Ivelyth Cruz.
“We are so proud of him. He is a good young man. He has made good choices,” Mrs. Cruz said of her son, who played basketball and ran cross country and plans to study biology at YSU with the goal of becoming an anesthesiologist.
“The kind of young man he has grown to be, I have no fear of the kind of man he will be from now on,” his father said.
Also beaming during the commencement ceremony were Chris and Tom Hensperger, whose son, Vincent Hensperger, is class president and is planning to attend Kent State University’s Honors College and study business.
“Vincent is very well-motivated and goal-oriented,” Mrs. Hensperger said.
Lowellville schools have a great sense of community and academics and great community and parental involvement, she said.