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Gowanda ceremony graduates 79 students

The Gowanda Central School Class of 2017 turn their tassels as they now become graduates of Gowanda.

GOWANDA — It’s the moment every student waits for.

They spend 12 years in classrooms, while learning on a wide array of topics, and it all comes down to graduation night. It’s when their name gets called as parents and friends alike cheer them on as they shake with their right hand and grab the diploma with their left.

For 79 students at Gowanda Central School District, Friday was their night.

In the 133rd commencement at Gowanda, High School Principal Dr. Robert Anderson spoke. In addition, Gowanda resident and faculty member at the State University of New York at Fredonia Andy Burr gave a speech, as well as Seneca Nation President Todd Gates, who said a few words.

Both Valedictorian Jack Van Wey and Salutatorian Brianna Weinaug led the Class of 2017 to its next step beyond the school district.

Anderson got it all started as he told a tale of a man who gained more land than he could ever walk. However, while taking the jaunt of his large territory, he passed away.

“The man was buried in a grave that was 6 feet long. Ironically answering the question: how much land does a man need,” Anderson said. “I guess, not that much land after all.”

From there, Anderson compared the land as things or objects and how other factors are not tied with the consumerism concept. Thus, he said, three traits that the graduates should take with them to the real world: be kind, be an upstander and be committed to strive for excellence.

Gates didn’t have a prepared speech in hand, but he wasn’t ill-prepared. He stressed that the graduates should not stay within their bubble. They should travel and see the world and know what is out there.

As the Class of 2017 will soon depart into their next chapter, Gates believes that their coming years and adventures will be scary, but moldable in the way they choose.

“Change is not always good,” he said, “but it is an excitement. … It is what you make it.”

Soon thereafter, the graduates stood up, row by row, and walked down to shake the hands of Superintendent James Klubek and Anderson. Finally, the small, leather-encapsulated diplomas were theirs.

All 12 years of work has finally paid off as they move on to their next journey.

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