The Mansfield Senior High School Class of 2015 was told Saturday their diplomas represent keys, but each of them must decide what doors they will unlock.
“I don’t want you to think today is the height of all heights,” said keynote speaker Dr. Glenn L. Faircloth Jr., superintendent of the Lorain County Joint Vocational School District.
“The blank key you are being given today doesn’t fit any door. It doesn’t have any notches but you can be the one to create that key,” he said, urging graduates to craft their keys at college, trade schools, in the military or in employment.
“This is the key of life. It is bigger, better and more powerful than any other,” Faircloth said, explaining that he overcame homelessness, discrimination and “eating out of trash cans” as a boy.
“You must strive to use your key to open more doors. I don’t want you to be afraid to use that key. One day you will turn that key and something will go ‘click.’ The choice is yours: the door to opportunity or the door to nowhere,” he said.
Principal Brad Callender reminded the Class of 2015 how much they had changed since first walking through the door as freshmen.
“A year from now you will have changed even more,” he said. “Choose wisely as you leave here.”
Callender shared the advice that he received years ago from an older man, a friend.
“I asked him, ‘What should I do?’ He didn’t answer immediately, so I asked again, ‘What should I do?’ He said ‘Do something.” Then he got up and walked away.
“That is my advice to you today. Do something. Don’t stay in the same spot. My heart will always be with you,” Callender said.
Valedictorian Marilyn Workman recalled the seizure that she had when she was 18 months old, which led to more seizures and a doctor’s assessment that she would be “mentally slow.”
“My grandmother didn’t give up on me. She taught me everything I needed to know,” she said.
Workman read from the Optimist Creed and urged her classmates to “be positive and don’t give in to negativity.”
Salutatorian Ian Brown thanked parents, families and teachers for their support of the Class of 2015. He urged classmates to never stop learning, always be of service to those who need assistance and challenge others to do more.
Joining the Senior High faculty in saluting the graduates were Superintendent Brian Garverick, board of education president Renda Cline, board vice president Dina Davis and board member Monica Hubbard.
The Class of 2015 has received $704,043 in post-secondary scholarships.
At the outset of the program the 2015 Golden Tyger Awards for exceptional service to the district were announced. The recipients are retiring Senior High teacher Sheryl Weber and head football coach Chioke Bradley.
Here are the members of the Senior High Class of 2015:
Marilyn Marie Workman
Ian Thomas Brown
Malik Xavier Mason
Jessica Elaine Cline
Laela Markay Norris
Cole Jacob Kiser
Adam Alaz Alobidi
Deanna-Maria Cabilao Beal
Cierra Elizabeth Beatty
Raven Antionette Bond
Jamaica Symone Bridges
DaiShaun Jalil Bronson
Breaira Raquel Brooks
Breanna Rachalle Brooks
De'Zeon Mercedes Sene'a Brooks
Rondre' Linn Brooks
Saphire Champagne Brooks
Brett Michelle Brown
Matthew Nelson Brown
Ariana Elizabeth Lee Browning
Tyrone Ramirez Cantrill, Jr.
Eric Draven Carpenter
Jose' Carrales Carielo
Logan Ray Carroll
Dameion Angelo Carver
Talia Rae Clifton
Nicholas Declan Crider
Asia Denise Davis
Dorthia Moesha Lessie Davis
Joshua Quantea Laprice Davis
Brooklyn Cole Dean
Jacob Andrew Debo
Raina Marie Deschner
Jordan Joseph Easter
Jenny Mae Elliott
Brianna Chandra Ellis
Talon Lyric Fairchild
Brianna Vanessa Finkey
Phillip Anthony France II
Anton Pierre Franklin
Mariah Sue Funk
Lamar Nathan Garrett
Keeley Lynn Gentry
Jocilene Adaejia Atariah Ginn
Brittany Raquel Goolsby
James Ray Green
Chynna Rose Gutai
Bobby Gene Hamilton
Nydaisia Alexis Hardin
Aphordia D'eshea Harris
Theodore Anthony Harris
Destiny Blaze Harvey
Deja Chenice Hawthorne
C J Higginbotham
Xavier Joseph Huddleston
Afrika Hurtado-Vazquez
Takur Kristopher Michael Jackson
Devonte Leshore Jacocks
Maria Rae Jordan
Corey Christopher Allen Keil
Ashley Alexandria Knipp
Austen Michael Kopp
Elizabeth Ashley Leahy
Aubrey Elaine Leclair
Marshall De'Andre Levins
Justin Shaymar Lewis
Astianna Daeshan Likely
Ashley Janiell Mabins
Heidi Lynn Marsh
Simone Edith Marshall
Max Timothy Martin
My'Keia Janell Martin
Bethany Paige May
Aeriel Mary Ellen McBride
Tierra Fay McClain
De'Yon Capri McDowell
Selena Nikol McGregor
Allen Jamar McNeil
Payton Marie Mills
Richard Alonzo Minor
Paige Morgan Morrell
Nathan Alexander Mount
Matthew David Murphy
Christopher William Nichols
Nathaniel Blake Nichols
Stine Noertoft Nielsen
Mitchell Lee Nixon
Morgan Taylor Nolen
Cheyenne Jewelle Norris-Brown
Tyisone Morance Norris
Dominique LaTerror Nusbaum
Justin Dwyane Oney
Jesse James Palser
Aaliyah Nicole Perry
Aaron Tyree Pinkston
Telisha Kay Pointer
Austin Lee Poole
Sha'Tia Marissa-Mae Porter
Darion Eugene-Edward Powell
Kayla Dawn Ramey
Ravon Lamar Reaves
Jeryn Kay Reese
Clayton Cole Richardson
Dorian True Rosier
Chelsea Nicole Ross
Anfernee Cornelius Rowel
Joshua Michael Scarbury
Sara Rose Sessions
Aleesia Makensi Shaw
Antonio James Slaughter
Joshua Wayne Orian Smith
Tansy AnnMarie Stahle
Jazmine Lynette Stewart
Kazunari Prionntae Sutton
Marissa MarieAnn Thomas
Dinah Hope Thompson
Brandie Taylor Toon
Briana Taiyan Tyler
Kelsey Lynn Wade
Tamaira Rose Walls
Asante' Voshon-Autry Wilder
Tiffany Ann Wilfong
A'Brianna Denice Williams
Mystery Egypt Windham
Terri Marie Windham
Elizabeth Ellen Wolfe
Emily Marie Wooten
Cheng-Yen Wu