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Girard graduates and their families experienced a warm commencement
GIRARD
An afternoon of appreciation at Girard High School’s commencement ceremony unified parents in their pride for their “forever Girard” students.
“Our lives are before us, our pasts behind us, but our memories are forever,” was the motto in Girard’s commencement program for the Class of 2016.
Sarah Kelly, grandmother of graduate Tyler Kelly, said the ceremony was fitting for her grandson, who grew up in Girard schools and turned out to be very “rooted.”
“I just think he’s an amazing kid,” she said. “He doesn’t think he’s better than anyone else, and he’s a good mediator when it comes to conflict. He’s very calm.”
Kelly will begin the next phase of his life in the Navy Reserve.
Melissa May, mother of another military-driven graduate, Steven May, said she found it difficult to express the pride she had in her youngest son and second Girard graduate.
Steven May, who Melissa said is quite driven, will be going into the Air Force.
The pride wasn’t just in students going to serve their country, however.
Tameesha Mills’ family was not only celebrating her graduations from Trumbull County Career and Technical Center and Girard High, but also her position as a chef at Squaw Creek Country Club in Vienna.
“We are just so very proud of her and all of her accomplishments,” said her cousin, Heather Sharp. “Through her college credits at TCCTC, she got this great job and is already fulfilling her after-graduation plans.”
Another TCCTC and Girard High graduate, Raven Phillips, also has plans to fulfill in cosmetology school.
“It’s something she’s very interested in – in making people beautiful,” said Ricardo Wallace, her grandfather.
Kimberly Kitchen, Phillips’ cousin, said what she and Wallace noticed most was the welcoming atmosphere of students, staff and parents.
“It’s nice to see so much support for these graduates – that’s what is most impressive to see – from family and staff,” she said. “It just feels warm and quaint. It was comfortable. The people that we sat by, even though we were strangers, they made us feel so welcome. It didn’t feel like a stiff graduation, but it seemed like we were a union. There’s definitely a lot of unity in this place.”
Kitchen also said she felt unified with other parents and family members in seeing so many “fresh young faces” in various honor societies and getting honors diplomas.
“I just see so many opportunities in these guys,” she said.