By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
As the clock struck the sixth afternoon hour on the twenty-fourth day of May, and the slightest drizzle of rain came down, families and friends filled the gymnasium of Glasgow High School to await the procession of the 123 soon-to-be graduates.
Meanwhile, in the high school’s library, the seniors gathered with their friends and senior sponsors as they dressed in their blue caps and gowns. The blue robes melded with the blue, metallic lockers as the seniors processed, for perhaps their final time, down the hallway to begin the hour-long graduation ceremony.
The graduates timed their entrances with the melodic drone of Pomp and Circumstance. Two-by-two they walked beside the rows of white chairs set up on the gymnasium floor and, when all 123 graduates had reach their assigned place, took their places as one mass as high school Principal Joey Norman stepped to the wooden podium on the somewhat raised dais.
This was the 109th Glasgow graduating class, but the first overseen by Norman, which made for a bittersweet moment as he looked out among the overjoyed families, friends and graduates.
“To the class of 2024 I say congratulations,” Norman said. “Cherish this moment for it is well deserved. As you move forward you carry with you the pride of your accomplishments and the confidence that you are equipped to meet whatever challenges lie ahead. Remember this is not an end but a beginning. The world awaits your leadership.”
After welcoming the guests and graduates, Norman turned the ceremony’s focus over to the GHS Accidentals who performed “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Several students in the group had solos and a hush fell over the gymnasium as their vocals reverberated throughout the room.
Once the performance was over, and applause subsided, Norman returned to the podium to acknowledge those “honored guests” who were in attendance. Those sitting on the stage included the members of the Glasgow Independent Schools Board of Education, Superintendent Chad Muhlenkamp and Band Director Jonathan Holmes.
During this portion he also recognized several students, both as a group and individually. First he asked those students with silver, gold and white sashes — which represent their grade point averages with silver being Cum Laude, gold being Magna Cum Laude and white being Summa Cum Laude — to stand.
One of those who stood was Ryne Randall, who, with his long-time friend and fellow graduate Francesco Cianci, plans to attend Hanover College in Indiana where he will study psychology with the hopes of “opening up a private, Christian counseling center.”
“I love to learn about people; being around people is awesome,” Randall said. “I love people’s stories…I feel like God has given me a gift to help people and I’m going to explore that the best I can.”
Randall, who started at North Jackson Elementary before “seamlessly” transitioning to Glasgow Middle School and Glasgow Little League where he met Cianci, said graduation feels “surreal” but was excited by the untapped future possibilities.
“It’s a surreal feeling to say the least,” Randall said. “It really hit me [last week]. I looked at the time and thought ‘man, it’s almost over. We’re in May now, the final stretch.’ It’s a surreal feeling and I’m cautious about it, but I’m [also] excited and ready.”
Another in the crowd was Darlyng Orellana, who, charting a different life path than Randall, is going to Paris Island in South Carolina for boot camp in the U.S. Marines Corp.
“I really like the discipline they have,” Orellana said. “I knew I wanted to grow as a person and I think the whole process really sparks me to change and a lot of personal growth.”
Though she was only at Glasgow Independent Schools a short time — having lived in Las Vegas, Minnesota and Colorado before — she agreed with Randall that graduating feels “surreal” and came up on her quicker than anticipated.
“It’s kind of weird because I remember graduating fifth grade at Highland and I thought then, ‘It’s a long time from now ’til I graduate,’” Orellana said. “It feels like this has come overnight. It’s surreal. I’m definitely going to miss it.”
Representing yet a third course was Grant Mutter, who is already interning full-time for a heavy-duty equipment rental company in town. In conjunction with his job he eventually plans to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio, a technical school, to learn diesel and high performance motor technologies.
In contrast to Randall and Orellana, Mutter said graduating will feel the same as when he went to full-time co-op.
Norman called out the names of the top 10 students in the 123 graduating class, who each walked, quickly but deliberately, across the stage to receive their white-and-blue wrapped gifts from Board of Education Chairperson Amelia Kiser. Within the top 10 was the salutatorian and the valedictorian, which was Samantha Mahung and Nicholas Bower, respectively.
“Approximately 13 years…that’s how long our school career has lasted, but at the time it only felt like one minute; one minute ’til class is over…one minute until practice is over…just one minute,” Bower said during the customary valedictorian class address. “One year before graduation turned into one semester, which turned into one month then one week. Next thing you know it’s one minute ’til we leave for good; one minute ’til we never set foot in high school again. We never realized how badly we would want just one more minute…. Our time in high school has been filed with valuable experiences…we’ve learned so much, not just academically but about life and the importance of cherishing every moment…. As we step into the next chapter of our life let’s take the lessons we’ve learned here; let’s not rush, always looking ahead to the next milestone, instead let’s live in the present whether going to college or starting a job.”
After the class address Muhlenkamp rose to confer the diplomas. As the names were called most in the audience observed quiet restraint with the notable exception of James Phelps, who, excited for his chance on the stage, could be heard saying “I’m ready” and jumping for joy as he hugged Norman and Kiser. That rule was dispensed with as school employees, audience members and fellow students cheered unabashedly.
One of the graduates who walked across the stage was Shazia Azaam, who moved here from Sri Lanka in 2021.
“I have many friends here that I’m really going to miss,” Azaam said. “Everyday that I wake up and come to school is a dream I live…. When I came here in my junior year I didn’t understand the education system…now that I’m graduating I cannot express in words what it’s like.”
After graduating she plans to study biology and molecular cellular development with the hopes of going to medical school.
Typical of a Glasgow graduation the ceremony was concluded by Auld Lang Syne being played by the bagpipes as the graduates walked out to throw their caps outside under the now dark sky.
“Go forth with the courage, passion and the knowledge that you have the power to shape the future,” Norman said.
Once the seniors were properly dressed they milled around with their friends and fellow classmates. Many laughs, hugs and smiles were shared amongst the 123 graduates. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
The hour-long graduation ceremony officially began at 7 p.m. though the soon-to-be-graduates gathered in the high school’s library to don their blue and white caps and gowns. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
For the final time the graduates walked through the halls of Glasgow High School to line up outside the gymnasium doors waiting to end their high school career and enter into the next stage of life. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
As the soon-to-be-graduates timed their entrance into the gymnasium to the sound of Pomp and Circumstance they shared a congratulatory gesture. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
One hundred twenty-three Glasgow High School seniors filed into the high school gymnasium to receive their diplomas; the culmination of their decade and two year academic career. The gymnasium was filled with overjoyed families and friends eager to see their blue-robbed seniors walk across the raised platform. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
As the graduates climbed the steps and walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from Board of Education Chairperson Amelia Kiser a restrained exuberance was observed by most of those filling the gym seats. The most notable exception to this, when the gymnasium filled with applause and cheers, was when James Allen Phelps, with all the jubilance due the moment, walked across the stage. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
As is typical for GHS graduations, the ceremony was concluded by Auld Lang Syne performed on the bagpipes by high school senior Joshua Richards. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
As the graduates walked out of the gymnasium two-by-two the pairs either blew kisses, high-fived, hugged, or, as in this picture, blew small confetti poppers when they reached the end of the gym before splitting up to walk out the doors. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
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