​Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Graduation 2017

Elwood-John H. Glenn High School seniors walked the field of their high school for one last time among family, friends, faculty, board members and administrators during the commencement ceremony held on June 23.

Led by Superintendent of School Dr. Kenneth Bossert, the Board of Education and administrators, the Class of 2017 made their way onto the football field where friends and family cheered in excitement.

All School President Matthew Weiss started the ceremony off with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Principal Carisa Burzynski then thanked the families, Dr. Bossert, the Board of Education, community members and fellow administrators for joining in the celebration.

Burzynski also offered her own advice and praised the graduating seniors on all their accomplishments, listing the various accolades that members of the Class of 2017 have received in the past year.

“You have conducted yourselves in the best possible light,” she said. “I thank you for sharing your lives with me. I have had the pleasure of getting to know so many of you and have learned that you are really good people, who will do very great things in life.”

In addition, Burzynski acknowledged a member of the Elwood community who passed away from cancer at the young age of seven and would have been part of the graduating class.

Her family was present to receive her diploma in honor of her memory.

Each graduate received their diploma from Bossert and was congratulated by Burzynski. After the presentation of the diplomas, Matthew Weiss approached the podium again to give his speech to his fellow classmates.

He reminded his peers that they are all authors to their own stories.

His mother, board member Deborah Weiss, embraced him before he sat back down with his graduating class.

Other speeches included senior class president Casey Oualaalou, salutatorian Samantha Ciappa and valedictorian Michael Hermanns.

Each thanked their families, administrators and teachers for the opportunities that they were provided in the district, while also wishing their fellow classmates well on their future endeavors.

Bossert shared the positive experiences that he had with the graduating seniors, including lessons that he learned from them during the year as the new superintendent in the district.

He ended his speech by summarizing his advice best by quoting fictional character Ferris Bueller and left the students with his gratitude.

“Thank you for bringing great pride to our community and as your journey beyond Glenn continues, don’t forget to stop and look around every once in a while because you can miss it,” he said.

On behalf of retiring Board President Michael LaMena, Board Vice President and parent Julia Fried encouraged the graduates to be a hero in life.

Weiss then offered her own advice as a Elwood-John H. Glenn High School alumna. She stressed to the seniors to never lose sight of their dreams.

Led by members of the student council, the graduates concluded the ceremony by moving their tassels from right to left to signify their commencement.

Blue and white caps filled the air as the students were introduced for the final time as the Class of 2017.

Congratulations to all the graduates!

Scroll down to see the pictures from the ceremony:

Photo Captions:

1) The Elwood-John H. Glenn High School graduates walked out to the field during the opening of the ceremony.

2) Graduating seniors dressed their best for their commencement ceremony.

3) Principal Carisa Burzynski congratulated class president Matthew Weiss after receiving his diploma.

4) Elwood graduates proudly showed off their diplomas on June 23.

5) Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert congratulated the Class of 2017 and reflected on his first year as superintendent of the district.

6) Hats off to the Elwood-John H. Glenn Class of 2017!

7) Valedictorian Michael Hermanns and salutatorian Samantha Ciappa of the Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Class of 2017.

Photos courtesy of the Elwood Union Free School District