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Dunkirk Grads prepare to change the world

Graduation time

pictured from left are Dunkirk Class of 2018 graduates Malique Carter, Sabien Smith, Jayden Correa, Payton Simon, Devaun Farnham and Darnell Butts.

The self-proclaimed “Best class to come out of Dunkirk High School” took the final step in their high school career and their first steps in changing the world.

At Dunkirk High School’s 160th Annual Commencement Ceremony Saturday in King Concert Hall on the SUNY Fredonia campus, 110 graduates vocally agreed with their valedictorian, Josue Rosario, that the Class of 2018 is Dunkirk’s best.

“Let’s look at the facts. We survived ebola, zika, the whip, the nay nay and the contentious Michael Jordan versus LeBron James debate,” he said, after ripping up his first speech. “… Walt Disney said, ‘Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward …’. I challenge you to keep moving forward and prove that we are the best class.” The emcee for the ceremony was Michael Burnett, who kept the grads and their families laughing with stories of the class’s best exploits — from athletic victories to dance moves and award-winning musical performances.

Superintendent Dr. James Tracy said the future is bright for the graduates, whether their path takes them to college, the military or the job market. However, as an educator, he couldn’t help but sneak in a last lesson or two.

In addition to reaching for the stars, Dr. Tracy said the grads can only succeed by embracing the only constant in life — change. He then asked the graduates to go a step further — to be an agent of change.

“Best wishes to the Class of 2018. Go change the world,” Dr. Tracy concluded in both Spanish and English.

In recalling the past four years at DHS, Salutatorian Samantha Moser’s agreed one of the most important lessons her classmates learned is to embrace change.

“Change can be frightening, but it’s not all bad. We all have our own talents …, but at this point we’re all in the same boat. We don’t know what’s to come, but we know we’ll make the best of it,” she said.

The ceremony ended with cheers that made the Class of 2018 famous at pep rallies, as each of their classmates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.

“To quote rapper Drake, ‘Started from the bottom, now we’re here.’ We made it!” Rosario concluded.

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