Nine Earn Diplomas in Island Class of '06
By Leslie Rott

The Mackinac Island Public School Class of 2006 poses at the elementary end of the school, where most began their studies. (From left, back row) Salutatorian Tyler Finkel, Sam Kamphuis, Jason Pettit, and Valedictorian Eric Cowell; (middle) Melissa Bunker, Emily St. Onge, Ben Mosley; (front) Christina McLean and Miranda McMahon.

Nine seniors were graduated from Mackinac Island Public School Friday, May 26, at a 7 p.m. commencement program in the gymnasium. The Class of 2006 includes Melissa Bunker, Eric Cowell, Tyler Finkel, Sam Kamphuis, Christina McLean, Miranda McMahon, Ben Mosley, Jason Pettit, and Emily St. Onge.

Beginning the ceremony, the students walked through an arch of flowers, ushered to commencement by their siblings, then presented their mothers with roses, thanking them for their love and support over the years.

"It's nice to see that something academic drew more people than a home basketball game," Superintendent Jack Dehring observed to the crowd.

He cautioned the seniors that "the time to pay attention isn't over yet."

"Pay attention" were the two words that Mr. Dehring offered the class of 2006. He told them that paying attention will be a critical skill in their life, not just in school.

He joked that he has had to change his telephone number 10 times because graduates keep calling him. He then assured the students that he would not change his telephone number for them, saying, "If you need something, call me and I'll be there."

Mr. Dehring then shared memories of each student, noting that the worst memory of school for Melissa Bunker was having to read Shakespeare. Eric Cowell's fondest memory of school was sticking his tongue to a flagpole in the middle of winter. Mr. Dehring suggested that Mr. Cowell was unaware of what fondest meant.

Scoring a goal from the center of the soccer field was the highlight for Tyler Finkel. Sam Kamphuis wants to be remembered for being himself and Christina McLean wants to be remembered for being helpful to everyone. Miranda McMahon will fondly remember being a line leader in kindergarten and Ben Mosley wants to be remembered as being fun to be around. Jason Pettit wants to forget the wedgie he received in 7th grade and Emily St. Onge would like to forget taking the ACT.

Valedictorian Eric Cowell, despite having returned to Mackinac Island Public School his senior year, had fond memories to share.

"Home, like all beautiful things, is in the eye of the beholder," Mr. Cowell began. "I've always found peace in this place."

He described family as a fluid entity and his classmates as an extension of his family.

Good and bad memories make a family, he said, and losing Frank Horn several years ago was a moment that not only brought him and his class together, it affected the entire community.

Love, he said, is what separates this class from the rest.

"What's the use in life when there isn't any love in it?" he asked.

The two most important things in life, he noted, are roots and wings. His classmates have always had their roots on Mackinac Island, he said, and with their diplomas, they now have wings.

"We are ready," Mr. Cowell assured his classmates, as he wished the class of 2006 a brilliant future.

Commencement speaker and former superintendent, Gary Urman, told the graduates to look under their chairs, remove the envelope, stand up, and open the envelope's contents. Inside, each student found a dollar.

"You have to get up off your backside in this life to make a buck," he told the students.

Students should set their expectations high and believe in themselves, he said. He also quoted from Robert Fulghum's book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," advising the students to "watch out for traffic," an important lesson for them to learn, most having lived their entire life on Mackinac Island.

Teacher Karen Allen showed the senior video that she created, which took the audience back to earlier days when the class of 2006 was young. Carrie Underwood's "Don't Forget to Remember Me" played in the background, a salient reminder of the unmistakable bond that the class of 2006 has built over the years. The video also included a personal message of appreciation each student expressed to their parents.

When it came time to award diplomas, there were tears and hugs and a sense of excitement

as the seniors took their first steps as the Mackinac Island Public School graduating class of 2006.

After the ceremony, the parents hosted a party in their honor in the all-purpose room.

Commemorating the

Class of 2006 Class Colors: Blue and pink

Class Flower: Lilac

Class Song: "Don't Forget to Remember Me" by Carrie Underwood

Class Motto: Carpe Diem! "Seize the day!"