Grand Haven class of 2015 graduation ceremony
May 22, 2015
The class of 2015 graduated 421 students on Thursday, May 21. Among the 421 were 65 Distinguished Academic Leaders who all maintained a GPA of 3.9 or higher throughout their high school careers. Addressing the senior class included Class President Alexa Shampine, Student Council President Devin Merz and Varun Biddanda who is ranked number one in the class. Presenting awards to faculty of the year members were Calvin Jager to teacher Jared Kram, Amy Kober to teacher Angel Dean, Joe Wisniewski to teacher Nathan Allen and Mackenzie Burkhardt to teacher Brian Williams. Schaefer Thelen also presented a special faculty of the year award to Keith Konarska who is retiring after 10 years at Grand Haven. The class of 2015 is the last class Konarska will graduate. Principal Tracy Wilson closed the ceremony with the traditional moving of the tassel from the right side to the left. The class of 2015 is the first class to be under the leadership of Wilson for all four years of high school.
Mackenzie Burkhardt presents teacher Brian Williams with one of the faculty of the year awards. “You need someone to be the ripple that will later on create the waves,” Burkhardt said. “If it wasn’t for this individual (Williams), half of the things we accomplished this year wouldn’t have been possible.”
Senior Class President, Alexa Shampine, begins her speech with the beginning of the Gettysburg Address.
English teachers Jared Kram and Angel Dean also accepted faculty of the year awards presented by seniors Calvin Yager and Amy Kober.
Superintendent Keith Konarska gave his final graduation speech to the class of 2015. Konarska has decided to retire after 10-years as Grand Haven’s superintendent. He also received a faculty of the year award presented by senior Schaefer Thelen. “Very few can claim responsibility for leaving a lasting legacy on this district and transforming the entire communities culture,” Thelen said. “Keith Konarska can.”
Principle Tracy Wilson embraces senior Luke Larkin after he received his diploma.
The class of 2015 graduated 421 students on Thursday, May 21.