Union High School graduates 127 Sunday

Published 8:57 am Monday, June 4, 2018

By Sarah Culton

DOWAGIAC — Under a clear, blue sky Sunday afternoon, Dowagiac Union High School seniors, donning black robes and orange ribbons, walked the school’s field for perhaps the last time.

Dowagiac Union High School graduated the class of 2018 during a ceremony Sunday. All together, the school awarded 127 graduating seniors high school diplomas.

“Graduation is an exciting time, and I say to our graduates, ‘this is your day,’” said President of the Dowagiac Union Schools Board of Education Larry Schmidt. “Parents, grandparents, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends are all here to celebrate your high school successes.”

Before the graduating class could toss their caps into the air, students speakers took to the podium to reflect on the last four years of their lives. To represent the senior class, valedictorians Lewis Hartsig, Justin Lyle, Haley Soderbloom and Drew Vaickus, along with salutatorian Alexis Hale, spoke at the graduation ceremony. Each speech congratulated the class of 2018 for the accomplishment of graduating and thanked the teachers and families that helped get the graduates to where they were Sunday.

In Hartsig’s speech, he thanked his father, school superintendent Paul Hartsig, and his mother for supporting him throughout high school.

“[Paul Hartsig] is my idol, and he is what I strive to be. I am thankful for everything he has done to get me here, and I would be proud to be half the man he is today,” Hartsig said. “I am also extremely thankful to my mom, who has always been there for me. Honestly, this was the toughest part of the speech to write because words cannot describe how much I appreciate her. From teacher, to published author, to fantastic mom, there is nothing she can’t do.”

Vaickus also thanked his family and teachers as he wished his classmates good luck with their future endeavors.

“I would first like to start off by congratulating my fellow classmates. We have all worked hard to achieve our diplomas, and are well deserving of them, but we couldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for the many great individuals that have helped us along the way,”  Vaickus said. “Friends, family, and staff have all devoted much of their time just to keep us on track. Many of those people would sacrifice everything just to see us succeed.”

Both Lyle and Soderbloom also thanked their families, friends and teachers in their speeches.

“I have received so much support from so many people over the last four years and I want to thank each and every one of you,” Lyle said. “I would like to thank our teachers for all that they have done for the class of 2018. All the dedication you have shown to teaching has not gone unrecognized. Without you, we would be nothing. The time you took to teach us everything you know is a gift we will be grateful for the rest of our lives.”

In her speech, Soderbloom specifically thanked her father who has supported her and documented every one of her “last firsts” during her senior year of high school.

“I want to say thank you for all the support I have received,” she said.

When Hale took the podium, she thanked not only her family and teachers for getting her to her diploma, but also her fellow classmates for making high school a memorable experience for her.

“I will continue to treasure and preserve each and every moment we have shared as a class,” Hale said. “I will forever reflect on my high school experience as some of the best years of my life. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck in the following chapter of your lives. Congratulations to the class of 2018. Thank you for all the memories.”

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