Forty-three years ago in 1979, I walked across the stage of the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in a hideously radiant orange cap and gown to pick up my diploma from Mauldin High School. Backstage, while other students were crying and mourning the end of “the best years of their lives,” I was positively giddy. I was so ready to get out and start my life — whatever that was going to be.
By the time you read this, Marathon High School likely will have graduated the Class of 2022 and sent them out into the world. High school graduation is one of the major mileposts of a young life — for some, a journey into a college education; for others, the beginning of a young career. One thing is for certain: Marathon knows how to take care of its graduating students like no other community.
Sarah and I are both mentors of amazing students in the Take Stock In Children program. In Take Stock, young students sign up and commit to keeping good grades and staying out of trouble. If they make it to graduation, they’re rewarded with a full-ride college scholarship.
Sarah’s Take Stock mentee, Synthia Robles, is graduating this year. Her Take Stock graduation took place last week, and it was an inspirational event watching these students make plans for their next step in higher learning. Synthia will attend the University of North Florida, and we wish her well in her college years. Sarah wished that she had brought tissues to these ceremonies — it’s a bit of an emotional roller coaster to watch these kids come into their own.
The Baccalaureate event was next, and the soon-to-be graduates, along with their families and friends, gathered at San Pablo Church. It was yet another inspirational evening dedicated to memories as well as hope for the future. Class members told stories and spoke about the world that awaits, and blessings and good feelings were joyously abundant. The Class of ’22 even rose and serenaded the family and friends in attendance!
Capping and Class Night was next on the graduation week agenda. Graduating students in their gowns were united with their mortarboards in the capping ceremony — tassels left! Then began the cavalcade of awards and scholarships. Marathon is a generous community when it comes to taking care of their students, and it was so heart-warming to see all our not for profits and local businesses step up and help our students with scholarships and even laptops and laundry supplies!
At the end of the donation process, the grand total was tallied: the Class of 2022 earned over $1.1 million in scholarships for higher education. That’s an amazing number, and it shows just how much Marathon cares about its graduates.
Special recognition was deservedly given to Marathon’s Laude, Cum Laude, and Magna Cum Laude graduates. And congratulations are in order for the Class of 2022 Valedictorian, Lillian Guo, and the Salutatorian, Leo Volcheck. They earned the opportunity to address their classmates at the Graduation Ceremony.
Marathon graduates are headed to diverse educational and career paths: many are headed to pursue higher education at colleges and universities in Florida and beyond, some will pursue athletics along with their higher education, some will serve our country in the Armed Forces, and others will enter the workforce. No matter the future direction, it’s clear that the Marathon community stands behind its graduates in an incredibly special way.
All that’s left is the Graduation Ceremony itself on Thursday, May 26. I like the fact that these are often called Commencement Ceremonies — sure, the high school journey is over, but the rest of one’s life is just beginning. Our graduates are looking at the opening of the next chapter in their lives. These times can be exhilarating and a bit scary, but I believe this Class of 2022 will go out into this world and make a difference.
Congratulations, Class of 2022! Now go show us all how it’s done!
– John Bartus is a singer-songwriter and Mayor of the City of Marathon. His Perpetual Island Tour will resume soon — in the meantime, check out John’s music anywhere you stream or download your music! Or point your browser to: johnbartus.hearnow.com
