The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Speakers lined up
Class president and valedictorian to join teacher Dan Reeves
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 31, 2007
The three speakers addressing the Milan High School class of 2007, families and guests at commencement Sunday hope to inspire graduates with reflection, humor and a wake-up call as they head off to college, jobs and life beyond the Big Red campus.
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Milan Middle School teacher and former band director Dan Reeves, along with class president Ryan Kartje and valedictorian Carolyn Nelson have been asked to speak during the ceremony, which begins 3 p.m. Sunday at the Milan High School main gym.
Reeves has been teaching in the district for 28 years and put many musicians through their paces as band director. He has taught computer science, career preparation and public speaking and, yes he said jokingly, he will be listening carefully as Kartje and Nelson speak to the crowd on Sunday.
Reeves hinted that he will be welcoming seniors to adulthood, challenging them to consider the lessons they learned in his "employability" class.
"Now that graduates are maturing, I hope they will be realizing that all the crazy adults around them might just know what they are talking about," he said.
Nelson, the daughter of Tom and Carol Nelson, plans to attend Calvin College in the fall to study nursing and continue to play volleyball on the Division 3 team. She said that many of her classmates plan to go on to college and she will share her thoughts on how, with their "senior pride stripped," they can all acquire the maturity and integrity necessary to continue past the heady high school days.
Kartje found inspiration for his speech from one of his favorite movies, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," where the hero says, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
While trying to avoid proverbial graduation day clichÈs, Kartje said he will encourage classmates to appreciate time as the ultimate resource and urge them to consider all the little moments in their lives that are unique.
Kartje plans to study at the University of Michigan next fall for a career in broadcast journalism. He is the son of Paula and Kirk Kartje.
Kim Goffee, the Milan High School senior dean, said 165 students will receive their diplomas Sunday.
Video of graduation will be posted online at www.heritage.com and photos will be offered for sale.
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