Urbana High graduation brings mix of joy, mourning for those lost

Urbana High School graduate Seamus McGee waved the school’s navy flag as students, family and friends cheered in Knott Arena at Mount St. Mary’s University Thursday morning.

He roared, throwing his cap up and into the crowd.

Photos: Urbana High School Graduation

A student chosen to wave the flag has endured great hardship during their high school years, McGee said before the ceremony.

At the end of his junior year, McGee’s mother died of colon cancer, he said. He had a blue ribbon pin attached to his stole for her.

“I’m gonna go up and kind of wave that flag with her,” he said. “It’s my final thing to, like, ‘See me now. Here I am. I just graduated. I did all four years of high school. I made it all the way through.’”

McGee wasn’t the only person in the Urbana community whose loss was acknowledged.

Before students were presented their diplomas, the mother of Urbana student Reed Herbolsheimer received Herbolsheimer’s diploma.

Herbolsheimer died in a crash during spring break earlier this year. Audience members stood and clapped for his mother on Thursday as she held back tears.

Members of Urbana’s graduating class of 525 walked across the stage to grab their diplomas, leaving behind four years of memories and looking forward to their future.

Nikita Arya will be attending the University of Maryland to study computer science.

Madelyn Bandeira is going to The Culinary Institute of America. “My mom’s a chef, so following in her footsteps,” she said.

Urbana High School Principal Donna Clabaugh told students to remember people who know their stories, not those who only know them through an image or social media post.

The people who know their stories saw the hours of studying, supported them through tryouts and auditions, and celebrated their successes.

“They have taken time to know the story of how you arrived here today in this place to celebrate your graduation,” she said.

Gabrielle Dwoskin, one of the student speakers at the ceremony, emphasized the role of each individual at the school, no matter how small it may be.

She likened it to the children’s book “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?”

Every time a stranger smiled at them in the hallway, helped out with homework, or wore a great outfit that served as inspiration for another student’s wardrobe, each student has affected another in a small yet significant way, she said.

And with a class of more than 500, they also were collectively affected. She urged them to maintain those small acts beyond school.

“No matter where you end up, fill someone’s bucket ...,” she said.

Brandon Bosaz, the ceremony’s second student speaker, quipped that students might remember information for class, only to forget it immediately after an exam.

He asked how many students remembered the Third Amendment, and only a smattering of hands went up.

“I would bet that not only have the majority of you sitting here already forgot the Third Amendment, but at least 60% of what we learned in school,” he said.

Despite this, the class of 2024 showed that they are adept at learning things for the first time.

They have all dived into the deep end of a swimming pool and figured out to swim, and he urged them to continue doing that.

“Because if we can, that’ll mean we continue to grow,” Bosaz said. “And if that’s the case, then perhaps this wasn’t a waste of our American taxpayer dollars after all.”

Other Urbana graduates shared bits of wisdom to those just starting high school: Don’t doubt yourself. Take your time. Don’t procrastinate.

Ryan Crean, the school’s prom king, signed off: “Peace out, class of 2024.”