Silver Creek Central School District celebrated its 71st annual commencement by encouraging the 75 graduating seniors to embrace their future.
On Friday, the Class of 2023 proceeded to the stage to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” and the program began with the National Anthem sung by senior chorus members and a traditional Seneca opening performed by senior Jakeb Millar.
Valedictorian Ryleigh Lawton thanked her teachers for helping her find her passion for science and math that she will pursue at the Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in engineering in the fall. She recalled the ups and downs and the first and lasts the senior class has had together.
“As my dad likes to say, we’re being pushed from the nest. This may be our last memory as a student body, but it’s also another first we get to share with one another - the first step of the rest of our lives,” she said. “It’s time to take the first leap into our adult lives; even if, at first, it might be scary trying to get our wings under us.”
Salutatorian Payton Brennan compared graduation to her third day of Kindergarten, which was the first time her older brother didn’t accompany her to her new classroom. At five years old she screamed and cried, attracting the attention of everyone in the hall and the principal, but she acknowledged that behavior is less acceptable at 18.
“Graduation symbolizes the end to an easy and familiar life, but also symbolizes the beginning to a life that we will make our own. Our dreams and goals are more than attainable with the unique talents we all possess,” she said. “Our futures are filled with extraordinary adventures, purpose, and unwavering determination. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and never underestimate the power you hold over your own life.
Thomas Brennan, Payton’s uncle, served as commencement speaker and got the crowd going with a rousing chant of “Class of ‘23.” After outlining the topics he could not speak about, he settled on the safest topic for his speech - outer space.
“Did you know the James Webb Space Telescope doesn’t orbit the Earth? It orbits the sun. So that it doesn’t fly off, we shot it out to this special spot … a million miles from Earth a of couple years ago,” he said “And when it got there - it opened like a flower, its petals shielding it from the sun and Earth, and it turned its gaze to the stars. It’s up there right now, just doing its thing. Changing our understanding of the nature of things and blowing our minds.
He encouraged the Class of 2023 to be themselves and also be like the James Webb Space Telescope.
“… And like the Webb Telescope, a million miles from Earth, unfold like a flower, to the heavens. And report back. Change our understanding of the nature of things. Blow our minds. You can do it. We believe in you,” he added.
The ceremony ended with diplomas and handshakes from the board of education and the traditional turning of the tassels. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!