Fenton High School Class of 2011 Celebrates Graduation Day

's 238 members of the Class of 2011 gave happy shouts and threw their caps in the air Sunday, celebrating their achievements and those who helped them along the way.

with 4.0 grade-point averages.

School board Vice President Lynn Hopper said 131 of the graduates — 53 percent — received 3.0 or higher grade-point averages in high school. Principal Mark Suchowski said 59 of them won 49 locally-sponsored scholarships totaling $126,750, and 39 earned academic scholarships from 13 colleges and universities, for more than $689,800. There were 98 who played sports their senior year and 86 took at least one International Baccalaureate (IB) class during the last two years. There were 11 graduates from the full IB program.

The list of achievements is long, and the Fenton High School gymnasium was full on Sunday as family members and friends packed in to see the ceremony.

In their four years of high school education, athletics and extracurricular activities, the graduates developed the skills they need to meet the challenges lying ahead, both in the world of work and higher education, Suchowski said.

"This ceremony is truly a beginning for each member of this graduating class," he said.

Salutatorian said she was both honored and nervous when she was told she had the opportunity to make a speech at graduation. Then she realized, "There are so many great things about the people I am graduating with, how hard can it be."

She brought up the graduates' thoughts to the first day of school, playing on the playground and meeting new friends, with Mom and Dad taking "a million pictures."

"We have evolved into individuals," she said. "They might be bigger and more intelligent, but they each still have that little child inside of them."

Leaving Fenton High School, they have made their mark, leaving behind more advanced classes, championships they won, performing arts they participated in and outside awards, Davis said.

The varsity football team earned a mention in more than one speech. Valedictorian mentioned the 13 seniors on the team who helped Fenton win the district finals in Midland, making school history and finally earning the Tigers bragging rights over Linden. Other achievements for the seniors included other sports, the Fentonian yearbook and In Print newspaper — along with humorous Friday newscasts from the advanced video production students.

Despite budget cuts that eliminated many extracurricular activities, National Honor Society, KEY Club and Student Council gave back through fundraising and tutoring, Rooker said. Athletics and extracurricular activities are students' decisions, she said. They choose to run another sprint or stay after school until their newspaper deadline is finished. Participating in them showcases students' skills and abilities, and the characteristics that make them who they are.

, the second valedictorian to speak, said the cool thing about Fenton schools is all of the choices students have the opportunity to make. As students advance from elementary to middle school to high school, the range of choices broadens. Chalut thanked parents for standing in hot gyms and volunteering. To her classmates, she said, "You have a lifetime to look forward to of adventure."

Valedictorian celebrated the unsung heroes in her class, who overcame physical and mental challenges to graduate. Some faced prejudice because of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation but stuck it out to finish high school.

"They inspire me, and they should inspire all of you," Edgar said. "They are people truly worthy of recognition."

The fourth valedictorian to speak, Sean Henry, recalled visiting Washington, D.C. for Project Civics. The group sat between the Washington Monument — what was — and the Capital Building, what will be. It's the duty of his generation to build tomorrow, Henry said. He's proud to be a member of his generation, and FHS' Class of 2011. "It is simply impossible for this class not to realize its potential."

Graduate MacKenzie McCormick wrote the senior class poem, "I Care."

"I love my class, and I had it in my heart to want to share something with them," he said. "Graduation is a lot of fun, and it's been amazing, McCormick said. "I'm really proud of my class."

Dr. Timothy Jalkanen, superintendent, said he is truly inspired by the graduates' gifts and talents.

"You make your families proud, and you make the school proud," he said.

He advised them to remember the lessons they've learned over their past 13 years of school, and always do their best, believe in themselves and do what is right.

"Remember these people as you continue along your long journey. You will have many challenges. Use your talents, use your skills," Jalkanen said. "Create the future of your dreams."

The audience in the gymnasium, and all of those in the school system — every teacher, bus driver, cafeteria worker and others — all worked together to bring the moment of graduation to them, he said.

Parent Shannon DeVoe watched her son, Tyler DeVoe, graduate. "It was awesome," she said. "It's overwhelming."

She has another student who is a freshman. Shannon has memories from kindergarten all the way through, she said. Tyler would like to go to a technological school to study for an automotive career.

Matt Wrotny, a 2008 FHS graduate, attended to watch his sister, Taylor Wrotny, graduate. He, and many others, would have been happy to receive their diploma in the mail, Matt said. But, "I know it means a lot to a lot of people, so it's cool."

The seniors' all-night graduation party followed that evening, at Donaldson Drive Campus.