{"id":16264,"date":"2015-06-15T12:50:50","date_gmt":"2015-06-15T16:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=16264"},"modified":"2015-06-15T15:02:55","modified_gmt":"2015-06-15T19:02:55","slug":"khs-sends-off-class-of-2015-in-grand-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=16264","title":{"rendered":"KHS sends off class of 2015 in grand tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘Bags are well packed’ – Bright futures await with $11.25 million in college scholarships and grants<\/em> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

By Kim Chiomento<\/span><\/strong>, News Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"khs3<\/a>

Members of KCSD administration and board celebrate KHS’ class of 2015<\/p><\/div>\n

KENNETT SQUARE \u2013 Thousands gathered on Kennett High School\u2019s (KHS) lawn Friday evening; with the school\u2019s iconic architecture providing the backdrop for a commencement ceremony set within the heart of a community.<\/p>\n

A warm, breezy evening embraced graduates and their loved ones as school flags, banners and decorations blew majestically; setting a picturesque stage while sending off KHS\u2019 124th graduating class in a grand, traditional style.<\/p>\n

The 2015 commencement ceremony maintained a strong theme of students continuing their journey, while standing at important crossroads, mixed with a healthy dose of hometown pride. Student speakers included Katherine R. Gallivan (Invocation), Peter J. O\u2019Sullivan \u2013 President Class of 2015 (Address of Welcome), Peter J. Lattanzio (We Have Drawn Our Maps), Hannah R. Shiflet (We Have Packed Our Bags), Katherine Bolten (We Have Abandoned Our Fears), Zixuan \u2018Zack\u2019 Shen (And Now We Choose Our Paths.)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"khs2<\/a>

Graduates create a ‘sea’ of blue & white blanketing KHS’ front lawn.<\/p><\/div>\n

Gallivan thanked the hundreds of classmates, teachers, parents, coaches and mentors who provided an incredible support system that helped students to \u201cnavigate an uncertain landscape\u2026..While we gaze upon new horizons we will remember our beloved hometown of Kennett and be grateful that this is where our journey began.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Sullivan quoted KHS\u2019 soccer coach, Mike Barr, \u201cWe live in America\u2019s town,\u201d noting, \u201cEach of us is irrefutably a product of our environment here and Kennett\u2026with a totally unique demographic and it is undeniably the future of our nation\u2026we truly owe America\u2019s town and KHS for who we are today, and who will be tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lattanzio explained that at KHS \u2018We Have Drawn Our Own Maps.\u2019 We each began by \u201cstarting small, sketching borders, rivers, making new friends\u2026and eventually, we drew towns, cities and roads\u2026joining clubs and finding where we fit in whether it is on the stage, on the field or in the classroom.\u201d He reflected, \u201cWe filled in the terrain too\u2026valleys for stressful nights of homework and mountain tops for sunny spring days spent with friends and family\u2026We should be proud of the maps that we have completed here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shiflet gave thanks to KHS for \u2018Packing Our Bags\u2019, and said \u201cWe are leaving with everything we will need\u2026classrooms that encouraged the pursuit of knowledge\u2026hallways where developing social skills in a diverse environment were provided, activities and clubs where we learned the importance of volunteering and giving back to our community\u2026to cheering on our athletes at sporting events and talented actors in plays; we all saw the power of teamwork and encouragement in action.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"khs4<\/a>

KHS’ Assistant Principal, Dr. Tomorrow Jenkins, looks on the class of 2015 with pride.<\/p><\/div>\n

Bolten spoke of \u2018Abandoning Our Fears\u2019 and offered an introspective turning point when one of her teachers said, \u201cKate, I can\u2019t wait to see what happens when you fail,\u201d she says, at first she laughed and thought it was odd. Eventually, Bolten realized he was right. \u201cPicking ourselves back up after each time life brings us down makes us even stronger\u2026next time we aren\u2019t afraid to make mistakes, our failures make us fearless.\u201d Bolten challenged her classmates to \u201cGo out there. Laugh in the faces of those who tell you that you can\u2019t. Save the world. Cure cancer. Be fearless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shen, spoke to \u2018Choosing Our Paths\u2019 and provided heartfelt remarks, \u201cPeople would have never guessed that I would be speaking in front all of you on this day. The district once tested me and classified me as having a speech and learning disability\u2026.making the recommendation that I receive therapy.\u201d Shen admitted, \u201cto my young and naive mind this was the most embarrassing experience. But, looking back, I now realize it was an opportunity; an opportunity to better myself. Where would I be if I never tried to being with?\u201d Shen went on to challenge his peers to \u201cLive your lives as one magnificent opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) Board President, Heather Schaen, offered graduates three pieces of sage advice that have made the most impact on her life. \u201cFirst, don\u2019t quit. Tough times don\u2019t last but tough people do, keep going.\u201d In a world full of technology and continual access to information, she asked students to \u201cTake time to savor the moment and give the people around you the attention they deserve.\u201d And lastly, Schaen said, \u201cCherish and thank the people in your life. The most important experiences, including your time at KHS, will always be about the people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"osullivantophonor\"<\/a>

Peter J. O’Sullivan receives KHS’ top honor – The W. Earle Rupert Memorial Cup<\/p><\/div>\n

Ceremony highlights included an acapella performance of Lee Ann Womack’s I Hope You Dance;<\/em> and the presentation of nearly ninety scholarships and awards.<\/p>\n

Peter J. O\u2019Sullivan was awarded KHS\u2019 highest honor, the W. Earle Rupert Memorial Cup. The award is given to the senior member of the National Honor Society who, in the judgment of the faculty, is deserving of this special honor by virtue of scholarship, school spirit, and service to Kennett High School. The recipient\u2019s name will be inscribed on the cup, and the award will be supplemented by the Lions Club Prize.<\/p>\n

As of May 20th 2015, KHS\u2019 graduating class has reported earning more than $11.25 million in college scholarships and grants. For additional information about Kennett High School, please visit kcsd.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

‘Bags are well packed’ – Bright futures await with $11.25 million in college scholarships and grants By Kim Chiomento, News Editor, The Times KENNETT SQUARE \u2013 Thousands gathered on Kennett High School\u2019s (KHS) lawn Friday evening; with the school\u2019s iconic architecture providing the backdrop for a commencement ceremony set within the heart of a community. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":16320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,9,1],"tags":[581,6314],"class_list":["post-16264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-featured","category-schools","category-uncategorized","tag-kennett-consolidated-school-district","tag-kennett-high-school-class-of-2015"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16264"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16346,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16264\/revisions\/16346"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}