SN 6-3-2023

The Sun and News, Saturday, June 3, 2023/ Page 3

serving our nation, we must
never forget the families they
left behind — the somber
moment when those men and
women were laid to rest once
the funeral, with full military
honors, concluded with the
playing of “Taps” and the
American flag is presented to
the family — they have to
carry on trying to keep the
memory of their soldier, sail-
or, Marine, or airman alive,”
Stauffer said.
Stauffer also encouraged
those at the service to
remember those now serving
in the military.
In addition to the ceremo-
ny at Lakeside Cemetery,
Post 305 held similar cere-
monies in the morning at
four other cemeteries around
Caledonia Township —
Alaska, Barber, Daniels and
Holy Corners.

sword.”
Saxton not only spoke to
the students about using tech-
nologies to accomplish tasks
but also about how and when
those technologies are used to
push tasks and struggles to
the back of one’s mind.
“If we use technology to
soothe the anxieties the tech-
nology has caused, where
does that leave us as humans?”
Saxton asked. “We are caught
in the middle of this loop in a
place where it is very easy to
alleviate our suffering but
also very hard to develop a
sense of agency. In that loop,
it is less about choosing the
life we want for ourselves and
more about retreating away
from the life we don’t want. I
would argue (that) if we give
up our agency, our freedom
of choice because we don’t
want to suffer through the
uncertainty of making them
or do the work to follow
through with them, we give
up our innate humanity. If we
avoid and delegate and dis-
tract ourselves through life,
what exactly is the point?
Now, anyone out there who
has ever had to work hard and
struggle through something,
you know the ecstasy of
accomplishment. Whatever
has been hard for you, if you
have chosen to face it head-on
and actually made it through,
you know that is the best feel-
ing in the world. That is what
you graduates are feeling
right now. That is life. That is
what makes it all worth-
while.”
While there is time to try,
fail and try again in college,
jobs or whatever future lies
ahead of the class of 2023,
Mia Dickman, who provided
the senior class address, does
not want her classmates to
wait too long to start trying to
leave their mark on their
world.
“We only have so many
tomorrows, so make every
day a choice, a choice to
make a difference, to leave an
imprint on your community
and all those around you, to
be a force for good,” Dickman

said. “As we venture into our

lives, let us be the guiding

light of hope, empathy and

determination. Let us be the

catalyst for positive change,

the voices for the voiceless

and ignite the flame of possi-

bility in the hearts of others.

Each and every one of us

possesses the power to make

a difference in our own

unique way. We have the

power to bridge divides, fos-

ter understanding and spread

compassion. We have the

power to make change. We

have the power to make

tomorrow a little bit better.”

The TKHS symphonic

band greeted spectators and

graduates as they entered the

stadium on the sunny, breezy

evening, which had mortar-

board tassels swaying from

right to left and back again

even before senior Graysen

Stahle led his classmates in

the official tassel moving cer-

emony at the end of the fes-

tivities.

The TKHS honors choir

and senior members of the

conference choir performed

“You Raise Me Up.”

TK Schools Superin-

tendent Tony Petersen pre-

sented, accepted and recog-

nized the class of 2023.

Senior class advisors Caeli

Loris and Pat Pullen read the

class role as the graduates

took the stage to receive their

diplomas one after another –

some with a look of joy on

their faces, others pride, satis-

faction and determination.

“I would like to congratu-

late each of you,” Petersen

said early in the evening.

“You have worked diligently

to reach this milestone. You

are here because you have

demonstrated grit and perse-

verance. You have pushed

yourselves to succeed and

have risen to the challenge

and the rigors that have been

put before you. I am proud of

each of you and the resilience

you have demonstrated, and I

am confident you will be suc-

cessful in your future endeav-

ors. It has been an honor to

serve as your principal, and it

has been a privilege to watch

you grow into the incredible

young men and women that

you are today. As you leave

here today, please note that

no matter where life leads

you, you will always be a part

of the TK family, and you

will forever be a TK Trojan. I

wish you all the very best.”

Before the mortarboards

flew, senior Thea Zellmer

gave her classmates one last

reassurance about the steps

ahead.

“When we walk out of the

stadium today, some of us

may feel nervous for the

chapter ahead – making new

memories and pursuing our

passions in new environ-

ments. However, some of us

may feel excited for what is

yet to come. When we step

out of this stadium today, we

will begin to play a game

where living with a positive

perspective can be our great-

est power. However, it is up

to us to decide how we will

play. While I can not tell you

how we all may succeed, I

can say that everyone single

of us has the power and the

perspective to change the

world. We are powerhouses

of innovation and imagina-

tion. We will push boundaries

that can change this world for

the better. For us, a new day

can bring opportunities for

greatness and a reminder not

to let our past failures define

our futures. In the game of

life, we may face challenges

and criticisms, but we are all

equipped with a perspective

of the world that will not hin-

der us from going after the

things that we want to

achieve.

“What we have learned in

our time in high school has

taught us to believe whole-

heartedly that there is nothing

we can not do. I hope that we

will leave this stadium today

remembering the lessons TK

has taught us and ready to

take hold of the lives we are

going to lead. Thank you, and

congratulations to the greatest

class of all time, the class of

2023!”

MEMORIAL DAY, continued from page 1

STORE HOURS

Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm; Saturday 8:30am-2pm

9980 Cherry Valley, Caledonia (M-37)

(616) 891-

Servicing theServicing the

Community forCommunity for

50

yearsyears!!

LAST LESSON, continued from page 1

Post 305 member Brian Stauffer, a 26-year Army

veteran, speaks at Monday’s Memorial Day service at

Lakeside Cemetery.

Thornapple Kellogg

Class of 2023 receives

honors and awards

Thousands of dollars in

scholarships were awarded

to Thornapple Kellogg High

School seniors last week at

the annual Senior Honors

Ceremony. Students also

received recognition and

awards for their academic,

community service and ath-

letic successes.

More than 50 scholar-

ships, from corporations,

memorial funds and other

sources, were announced

with many coming from the

Thornapple Area Enrichment

Foundation.

The following scholar-

ships and awards were

awarded:

• University of Michigan
  Award: Andy Liu and Natalie
  Alden
  The Barry County
  University of Michigan
  Alumni Club each year pres-
  ents these students with a
  dictionary.


• Henry J. Dugan
  Principal’s Award: Tag
  Fortuna
  This award is intended
  to bring public recognition
  to a senior student who has
  earned the respect of his or
  her school and the commu-

nity. The recipient is not

always an active partici-

pant in every school func-

tion but someone who

demonstrates that they can

contribute without hurting

others and that they can

succeed by helping others

to succeed.

• Ray Page Service Award:
  Mia Dickman
  This award is intended
  to bring recognition to a
  senior student who has
  contributed extra time and
  effort to help out when and
  where needed. The recipi-
  ent isn’t necessarily a
  straight ‘A’ or ‘B’ student,
  but someone who always
  seems to be there when
  needed.


• Scholastic Excellence
  Award: Luke Kaiser and
  Thea Zellmer
  This award is intended to
  bring recognition to a senior
  student who demonstrates
  the qualities of an exemplary
  citizen, role model to young-
  er students, traits of courage,
  poise, self confidence, and
  leadership.

Scholarships

• Natalie Alden: Samuel
  McKeown Memorial

(Business), Beth Helrigel

Wester Memorial, Gerald

and Ceta Williams, Michigan

Blood Award

• Myah Andrus: Millicent
  Froce Knox


• Carsen Burbridge:
  Logan Michael Kimbrue
  Memorial, Lois Ann Nagel
  Seppanen


• Lane Cross: Clay Hills
  Farm


• Anna Davis: Barry
  County Humane Society


• Catherine Densham:
  Alecia Lorraine Holst
  Memorial, Tad Thatcher,
  Samuel McKeown Memorial
  (Medical), Michigan Blood
  Award


• Mia Dickman: GFWC -
  Gun Lake Women’s Club,
  Southside Pediatrics, Adele
  and Arnold Parker, Dr.
  Wayne and Marie Finkbeiner,
  Thomas Hamilton Memorial,
  Rotary


• Tag Fortuna: Don and
  Catherine Williamson


• Zack Gibson: Rotary


• Lainey Guikema:
  Michigan Blood Award


• Liberty Hess: TKEA


• Dylan LeClaire: Brian
  Appel

See HONORS, page 4