by Joni Astrup
Associate editor
Paula Hart asked Spectrum High School graduates to think about what they are packing for the journey of life.
Hart, president and CEO of Volunteers of America, suggested three things: a bag of dreams, an attitude of openness and a spirit of willingness.
Hart was the commencement speaker at Spectrum’s graduation ceremony on Friday, May 27. Spectrum is a public charter school in Elk River established in 2006. All charter schools have authorizers, and Spectrum’s authorizer is Volunteers of America.
Hart, meanwhile, said it’s never too late to dream. For parents and grandparents in the audience, she suggested learning to dream new dreams.
She’s had to do a bit of that in her own life. Hart said she’s been divorced and downsized from three jobs — challenging experiences that led to new dreams.
An attitude of openness has helped her navigate the curve balls of life. Hart said she’s held a variety of jobs including tour guide, waitress, playground leader, proofreader, sales trainer, lingerie buyer, store manager, marketing director and president and CEO of two different non-profit organizations. At Volunteers of America, she said she supports 799 other colleagues and 1,200 volunteers in a mission to help people gain self-reliance, dignity and hope.
“You might think I can’t keep a job,” Hart told the Class of 2016. “But, graduates, you can expect to have 12 to 15 jobs in your lifetime. An attitude of openness to life’s possibilities will help you navigate those options and opportunities.”
Willingness is another virtue that Hart believes will come in handy. That includes a willingness to be not just in a starring role but to be in a supporting role or behind the scenes.
“So much of the world depends on people whose names are not well known, who are not on the front of celebrity magazines and whose contributions many of us take for granted,” she said.
Valedictorian Zachary Knollenberg told graduates that what they do with their futures is entirely up to them.
“You get only one life on this earth and you need to decide for yourself how you want to live it,” he said.
He advised them to not live in the past. Rather, focus efforts on creating a future that is worth living. Embrace change.
He compared life to a piece of paper that is blank on one side and with writing on the other side. The written side represents the past, including friendships, connections and memories. The blank side represents the future. Every paper is unique.
“Fellow seniors, your blank paper is waiting for you. Go out into the world and fill it with amazing adventures, sensational stories and extraordinary experiences,” he said.
Salutatorian Marie Miller talked about choices. “Everything in our lives is a choice and our lives are defined by the choices we make,” she said.
Now is the time for this chapter to end, to move on and make new choices, she said.
“This is just the beginning of your story,” she told her classmates.
Commencement was held at the school, located at 17796 Industrial Circle. It began with seniors marching in to the melody of “Pomp and Circumstance” and a solemn presentation of the flag by the Elk River Police Department Honor Guard.
The chamber choir sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Awards were also given out during the ceremony.
Harold Roberts received the parent volunteer award. Vanessta Spark, Spectrum’s executive director, described Roberts as an exceptional volunteer, tireless, friendly to everyone and reliable.
Spirit Awards went to Leah Dehn, Noelle Diekman, Connor Hansen, Ryan Killeen, Zachary Knollenberg, Michaela Moen, Kassidi Robbins and Ryan Swanson.
Outstanding student scholars were also recognized. They are Courtney Allard, Brynn Bozich, Michaela Moen, Luke Nolden and Zachary Knollenberg. Collectively, they and other members of the Spectrum Class of 2016 earned 1,059 college credits, saving approximately $186,000 in college tuition costs, Spark said.
Knollenberg completed an associate of arts degree and is a National Merit Scholar.
Diplomas were conferred on the 51-member class by David Lucas, chairman of the board of directors; Spark and Joshua Anderson, principal.
Teacher Amy Kinney offered closing remarks. She recited a poem she had written in honor of the graduates titled, “2016: The Black and the Green.”