Baccalaureate 2016
Source/Author: Raffi Darrow, Ebytes Editor
May 20, 2016
Eighty-four seniors, their families and friends gathered in the Janet Root Theatre for Baccalaureate on Saturday, May 14, 2016. Eight students spoke, reflecting on their Shorecrest experiences, winning homecoming, and quoting Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again.”
The first speaker was Matthew Kongsiri, who welcomed the grade with the following humor:
“Tomorrow we celebrate our new beginnings as we embark on our journeys in higher education and pursue our goals. Many of us know what we want to do, some of us will discover along the way, and maybe some will change their minds as we proceed. As young adults, we are at the prime time in our lives for seeking out our goals and ambitions. I am sure that our parents can attest to the fact that we will never have as much time, energy, enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells as we have today.”
Headmaster Mike Murphy then acknowledged the stories that each member of the class holds dear. “While there will be only eight speakers, we recognize that there are stories in the hearts and minds of every member of the class. Seniors, I tell you that you give each and every one of us a gift when you share your stories and when you are willing to let the adults and friends in your life share their stories.”
After a musical presentation from the senior members of the Upper School Vocal Ensemble of the Alma Mater, Shorecrest’s school song, Mr. Dillow, Head of Upper School, and Mr. Schneider, Senior Class Sponsor, joined Mr. Murphy for the traditional presentation of the Longevity Awards to the thirty-eight members of the class who had been at Shorecrest since first grade or longer.
Seif El Masry then took the stage. Despite all his kidding around, he concluded “No amount of thank yous will ever be sufficient to show you how sincerely grateful we are for the men and women you have helped shape us into. It’s incredible how close we’ve become this year. I don’t think anyone actually believed it when we all told Mr. Murphy at the beginning of the year that we would become the closest graduating class. I’m not saying we are, but based on what we started with, I doubt any other class has come this far... it’s gonna make leaving you all so much harder. My biggest thank you goes out to you guys [the Class of 2016] for making my time with you the best years of my life and giving me memories that I will cherish forever. You da real MVP.” And he finished with a gentle - albeit dramatic - mic drop.
Kai Greenlees acknowledged the support of her teachers, and how helpful they have been through their dedication to each student’s education and genuine concern. She acknowledged that everyone comes across “hurdles or imperfections that weren’t a part of this traditional game plan. My greatest hope is that each of us get over our hurdles coming out stronger, and are able to look back and see that we wouldn’t be the same people if it weren’t for both the good, as well as the difficult times. I wouldn’t be the same person I am today, or as thankful to be a part of this class and community, if it wasn’t for how (my teachers and friends) helped lift me back up to get me where I wanted to be. I know that our class has come far already and have overcome one of the biggest hurdles - high school - and are well equipped to handle whatever comes next.”
When Dylan Leary spoke, he reminded the grade of “the ghosts of Shorecrest past” - students who left before Upper School started, some even in the audience that day supporting their old friends. He said the class had spent about 13,860 hours together. “1,980 lunches. 144 Monday morning meetings. 80 dress-up days… We’ll be receiving our diplomas and parting ways in about 24 hours, but I’m already looking forward to Homecoming 2017, in about 4,000 hours, and our 5-year reunion in about 44,000 hours. Just as we came together to win homecoming, we’ll come back together in the years to follow and the bond of this family will never be broken.”
Science and Math teacher Mike Steele was chosen by the students as the faculty speaker. He addressed the concerns of the grade’s generation summed up in their catchphrase, Y.O.L.O. - You Only Live Once. Rather than using YOLO as an excuse to throw caution to the wind and eat gummy bears for breakfast, Mr. Steele would like the Class of 2016 to remember that life and the world around them is precious, and to treat it as such because, well, YOLO.
Next, the senior members of the Upper School Vocal Ensemble performed Five for Fightings “100 Years”. A clip of their song is on the Shorecrest Instagram account.
The next three students to address the audience were Ginny Swanson, Marcus Blake and Sydney Brandenburg. Ginny touched on lessons she learned beyond the classroom. “I’ve learned from my teachers how to stay focused and organized. I’ve learned from my directors and fellow castmates to be brave, work hard, stay humble, take direction and believe in myself. And I’ve learned from my classmates to be accepting, inclusive, and spirited.”
Speaking between two students who spent a lot of time on stage at Shorecrest, Marcus reminded the grade that magical moments happen in the Crisp Gym as well. “Although I am typically known as the quiet, shy, and nerdy kid, playing basketball allowed me to become more vocal and express my true goofy personality. With a team full of comedians including 4 of my fellow seniors Tyee, Kent, Aundre, and Devin, this group truly made my high school experience at Shorecrest better.”
As a class Lifer, Sydney gave a brief recap of experiences starting with nap time and recess. She said college is a chance for everyone to reinvent themselves, “but what I realized is that I don’t want to change who I am. I have grown up with the 83 people you see on this stage and we have all shaped each other. We push each other to be better, we have hilarious stories, and most importantly I know every single one of you will succeed in whatever you choose to do. Thanks for embracing my awkward years and still accepting me. I’m glad I have grown up with the Class of 2016.”
The program ended with Honor Council Co-Chair Henry Walsh, and what Dr. Littlefield refers to as his “wicked humor.” But he managed to toss all humor aside when he said, “I can stand here and say, without a shred of sarcasm, that we really did come together as a class. Speaking for myself, I’ve become great friends with a number of you over the course of this year that I barely knew or even (sorry) liked eight months ago. The atmosphere throughout this year has been positive, mature and friendly, and it’s been great to be a part of it.”
The families of the Class of 2016 departed the Shorecrest campus to enjoy a celebratory dinner at the St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater, where graduates were presented with gifts and copies of the Class of 2016 slideshow on DVD. Thank you to class liaisons Kay Bronstein and Angela Estes for organizing such a lovely evening for our students and their guests! Congratulations Class of 2016!
