Mount Vernon High School held commencement exercises Sunday, May 21, at Mount Vernon High School.
Senior Michael Briesemeister was one of the two speakers for the class of 2023. He noted that the seniors experience was not what he would consider typical, with the students experiencing many major events in the past four years – the pandemic, derecho and others.
He said student’s success was due to the pyramid of support students have found. At the bottom are the administrators at the buildings, who have supported those programs in many ways.
“They helped us build our new auditorium, which has afforded us numerous performances that would have been nearly impossible at the middle school auditorium,” Briesemeister said.
The second level of the pyramid was the staff and teachers at the district, as well as coaches and other sponsors.
The final level was the students themselves. Briesemeister said the class has a broad diversity of students.
“The students of Mount Vernon can go into the world knowing what they want to do and how to get there,” Briesemeister said. “We have been formed into leaders of every kind. Do not ever let yourself believe that you cannot lead.”
Dallas Olberding was the second of the speakers for the class of 2023.
Olberding’s main theme came from thinking about the quote “Life is about the journey, not the destination.”
Olberding said that like many other students, he has been involved in extracurriculars, and when he thinks of those activities, he doesn’t think of the concerts, performances or events themselves, but the hundreds of hours of practices working towards those goals.
“I feel a lot of the times we are raised to focus on the outcome over everything else,” Olberding said. We gauge our successes off how well we execute the presentation, when 98 percent of the time is spent working towards that moment – that moment at the end of the day you have no control over.”
Olberding also recommended that many of his fellow seniors might benefit from tapping into their inner child again, to go back to living to live once more.
“We come into the world knowing who we are before the rest of the world tells us who to be,” Olberding said.
He reminded seniors not to stress if they don’t have the rest of their lives planned out.
“You don’t have to have it all together,” Olberding said. “You are allowed to change your mind. You are more than your work and productivity. There is no one way or set of standards you must achieve to succeed and live a meaningful life.”
Alissa Sabers was the teacher the class of 2023 selected to speak this year.
Sabers spoke about the lessons she wanted to impart with students. Her first, being someone who loves Disney, came from one of the park rides. “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow waiting at the end of today.”
The second was that the world of cliques, drama and things that plagued their high school experience starts with a fresh slate today.
Her third lesson was the importance of positive thinking and choosing their attitude in what they face.
Mount Vernon superintendent commended the parents and teachers who helped the graduates of the class of 2023 succeed, and left with his familiar note that being an alumnus means that Mount Vernon Schools will always be home.
This year’s twist – was a thank you to the seniors on the football team who helped beat Solon not once but twice and earned a second-place finish.
“As superintendent, I’m the biggest cheerleader for the school, but this year has made that extremely easy,” Batenhorst said, as he rattled off a list of accomplishments that the school had just in the past month, including the numerous groups participating in national events and competitions.
Immediately following the graduation ceremony, the seniors took part in a salute to graduates parade through the community of Mount Vernon.
Michael Briesemeister and Steve Brand share a handshake at Mount Vernon graduation. Briesemeister was one of two speakers for the class of 2023.