By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Prior to last Thursday’s Zeeland East High School commencement exercises, science teacher Molly Kwiatkowski placed a LifeSavers candy on the seat of each graduating senior.
“While this candy may have just been a familiar treat or standard candy in Room 209, I hope it also symbolizes something a little bit more,” said Kwiatkowski, popularly known at East as “Miss K,” who was picked by this year’s graduating class to give the keynote address at commencement.
“Let these little candies serve as a perfect reminder to savor all life has in store for us. Savor the past, the present and the future.”
Dressed in brown caps and gowns with gold sashes, 247 seniors received their diplomas during the ceremony at Hope College’s DeVos Fieldhouse. Six foreign exchange students were also recognized at the ceremony.
Kwiatkowski praised the East graduates for their ability to develop relationships throughout their time in school.
“You have built friendships that have demonstrated in the purest form how to help and support one another,” she said. “You have learned how to work with others, encourage each other, and show up when it mattered most. Whether it was cheering someone on, standing by a friend, or just listening when someone needed it, you have all built a community, and that’s no small thing.”
Co-valedictorian Charlie Reese also focused on the importance of relationships and kindness in his message.
“You don’t have to be the smartest kid in class or the fastest player on the field to treat others well,” Reese said. “At the end of the day, how we make others feel is our legacy, and it’s fully in our control … Let’s lead with empathy, act with kindness and leave people better than we found them.”
Co-valedictorian Alaina Tracy drew a comparison between the unknowns that she and her classmates faced when they began school 13 years ago to the unknowns they now face as graduates.
“Every single one of us has the ability to do amazing things, to write our own stories in the ways we see fit. We’ve faced the unknown before, and we can do it again, using everything we’ve learned to help us live out the next chapter of our lives,” Tracy said.
A total of 121 seniors graduated with honors for maintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average, including 40 graduates who finished with cumulative GPAs of 4.0 or higher.
East Principal Jessica Knoth said that the graduates demonstrated hard work, growth and perseverance.
“You have faced challenges none of us could have predicted through these formative years, yet you stood tall, you adapted, you pushed forward, you supported one another,” Knoth said. “That resilience will carry you for far beyond Zeeland.”
Zeeland Record
Prior to last Thursday’s Zeeland East High School commencement exercises, science teacher Molly Kwiatkowski placed a LifeSavers candy on the seat of each graduating senior.
“While this candy may have just been a familiar treat or standard candy in Room 209, I hope it also symbolizes something a little bit more,” said Kwiatkowski, popularly known at East as “Miss K,” who was picked by this year’s graduating class to give the keynote address at commencement.
“Let these little candies serve as a perfect reminder to savor all life has in store for us. Savor the past, the present and the future.”
Dressed in brown caps and gowns with gold sashes, 247 seniors received their diplomas during the ceremony at Hope College’s DeVos Fieldhouse. Six foreign exchange students were also recognized at the ceremony.
Kwiatkowski praised the East graduates for their ability to develop relationships throughout their time in school.
“You have built friendships that have demonstrated in the purest form how to help and support one another,” she said. “You have learned how to work with others, encourage each other, and show up when it mattered most. Whether it was cheering someone on, standing by a friend, or just listening when someone needed it, you have all built a community, and that’s no small thing.”
Co-valedictorian Charlie Reese also focused on the importance of relationships and kindness in his message.
“You don’t have to be the smartest kid in class or the fastest player on the field to treat others well,” Reese said. “At the end of the day, how we make others feel is our legacy, and it’s fully in our control … Let’s lead with empathy, act with kindness and leave people better than we found them.”
Co-valedictorian Alaina Tracy drew a comparison between the unknowns that she and her classmates faced when they began school 13 years ago to the unknowns they now face as graduates.
“Every single one of us has the ability to do amazing things, to write our own stories in the ways we see fit. We’ve faced the unknown before, and we can do it again, using everything we’ve learned to help us live out the next chapter of our lives,” Tracy said.
A total of 121 seniors graduated with honors for maintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average, including 40 graduates who finished with cumulative GPAs of 4.0 or higher.
East Principal Jessica Knoth said that the graduates demonstrated hard work, growth and perseverance.
“You have faced challenges none of us could have predicted through these formative years, yet you stood tall, you adapted, you pushed forward, you supported one another,” Knoth said. “That resilience will carry you for far beyond Zeeland.”
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