Masuk Celebrates the Commencement of the Class of 2012

The crowd filled the bleachers at the Masuk High School athletic field and spilled out onto the grass covered hill beside it Tuesday afternoon, as relatives and friends came out to see the close to 340 members of the Class of 2012 graduate.

While many had enjoyed academic, musical and athletic success during their high school careers, this is a class that became known for being active in its community.

Board of Education Chairman Darrell Trump said students had served a total of 27,354 hours of community service. "This will be your destiny," he told them, while making the opening remarks.

"We live in a time when sacrifice is definitely out of fashion," he said. "Some people call this 'The Me Generation'. When we engage in the service of others. It puts our own problems into perspective. Instead of losing ourselves, we find ourselves."

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Masuk senior Jessie Gitow gave the Graduate Address.

She said, "I look at these four years as the bike with the training wheels on, [and you go up to the stage, receive your diploma], shake hands and the training wheels fall off."

Gitow admitted to being scared of graduating and starting over, but spoke about having a bucket list of goals to pursue. She encouraged her classmates to leave their comfort zone and go after their own goals in life.

Cullen Burling, co-valedictorian of his class, urged his fellow graduates to seize the day, make the most of their opportunities and avoid regret.

Masuk's other co-valedictorian, Benjamin Call, spoke of his love for math and for sharing that with others. He encouraged his classmates to go after what they love most.

"Passion is what makes life worth living," Call said. "Now our lives all go in different directions. Just make sure we all share one thing: Passion."

Class President Daniel McCarthy thanked all of the administrators and the teachers for challenging everyone to better themselves. He compared the four years at Masuk to putting together pieces of a puzzle.

"Congratulations to the Masuk Class of 2012 as we all start a new puzzle," McCarthy said.

Joseph Kobza participated in his first graduation as Masuk's principal, but he has been there before.

"Twenty-two years ago, I sat on the same field you sit on tonight, wondering what my future will be," Kobza said.

Kobza bid a fond farewell to Assistant Principal Frank Samuelson, who is leaving the school. He said Samuelson had often been asked by friends what it was like being at Masuk.

"He said, 'I'm alive and going to Masuk. What could be better,'" Kobza recalled, adding he feels the same way.

Kobza told the crowd he would put a Masuk student up against any student in the state and he expressed his wish that every graduate lead a happy, productive life, before turning the class over to Supt. of Schools James Agostine.

Agostine told the graduates to think of their education at Masuk as a canvas upon which they will paint their lives' future. He told them the two most important things in life are honesty and integrity, and wished them all success in their future endeavors.