Finnegan Middlestat. Photo by Jacqueline Flynn

“Let’s make this last night count.” –    ~ Finnegan Mittlestadt

Last Thursday, the gymnasium of CCS was once again filled with families and friends to celebrate the graduating class of 2018. The room was illuminated by a beautiful 2018 sign filling the front wall, each number decorated in the flavor of a different season. 

“Tonight is not only a time to celebrate your accomplishments, but reflect on your learnings,” Principal Jen Roth said as she gave the opening welcome alongside her co-principal, Stephanie Sumner. Their speeches we accompanied by sentiments from the teachers, describing memories and traits of their students and offering bits of advice, too. As they spoke, it was clear that this class of 38 Charlotters was a tight-knit family and yet full of individual characters. 

“If there is one thing that I learned from this group, it’s that they value relationships. They all know what it means to be a valued friend and role model,” said Sumner. 

After their welcome, the lights dimmed and the CCS staff sang “Good Riddance (Time of your Life)” to send off the graduates. 

CVSD board member Jeff Martin introduced the student, Finnegan Mittelstadt, the speaker for the night. She didn’t seem fazed by the room full of people watching as she took the podium and described some of her favorite memories from the last eight years, eliciting laughs from the crowd. But it was perhaps her final message that best summed up her speech: “We will all in our own ways channel the lessons we have learned and succeed in adapting to change. So, let’s make this last night count when we know change is in our future.” 

Congratulations, CCS class of 2018!