Commencement is defined as “the beginning of something” and as a “graduation ceremony.”  There it is, in one word, the beginning and the end. 

 

This past week several events happened which made me reflect on commencements.  I was very pleased to work with Jim Spanner and The Marietta Times in coordinating the Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Banquet.  At the banquet 43 high school seniors were honored for their excellent academic achievements.  Their words of appreciation for the educators who influenced their young lives were heartfelt and touching.  Our future looks very bright because of these hard-working and accomplished youth, who are finishing their childhood in a few weeks at graduation and beginning their adulthood. My advice to the students was, “Go out, Learn, Experience all the world has to offer, and then come home to the Mid-Ohio Valley.”

The next night I attended the Telesis Class of 2008 graduation. The Marietta Are Chamber of Commerce created this community leadership development program 20 years ago to teach the next generation about leadership, community issues, and about the importance of getting involved and giving back through service.  There are nearly 400 Telesis alumni in our community; serving on various boards; volunteering at church, in school, helping whenever there is a problem to be solved.  Telesis alumni serve in government; they lead our businesses; they manage our non-profit agencies. 

 

 

 

This Telesis class chose to work with the Skaters United to renovate and repair the skateboard park.  They worked side by side with kids in our town to create a place for children and young adults to soar, to be challenged and to succeed.  Congratulations to our newest grads: Kim Wells, Bill Kelsey, Deborah Hutchison, Carrie Ankrom, Renee Steffen, Jadea Conte, Erin O'Neill, Kathy Archer, Adam Spencer, Lisa Valentine, Roger Bartunek, Brenda Kornmiller, and Judith Thompson-Verdi. 

 

 

 

Two other events I attended involved young people.  The Young Emerging Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley held a mentoring event at Campus Martius Museum, inviting the established community leaders in Marietta and Parkersburg to come and meet the next generation, to share ideas, to help mentor our up-and-coming leaders. Sixty people took two hours on a Friday night to talk about hopes and dreams, to talk about making a difference in each others’ lives, and to work on making the Mid-Ohio Valley a place we’re all proud to call home.

 

 

 

Saturday morning found me at Marietta College with nine area middle school students representing Belpre, Marietta and Warren schools who were participating in the Teen Telesis program.  Sponsored by the Chamber and the Telesis Alumni Network, Teen Telesis spun from the adult leadership program and is geared towards teaching the youths in Washington County basic leadership skills and the value of volunteerism. Congratulations to our  2008 graduates:: Elizabeth Frazier, Whitney Gibson, Rebecca Knowles-Maciag, Molly Mays, Madison Miller, Ashlynn Randolph, Jordan Reynolds, Courtney Wentz and Jared Woodford.  There are now 43 Teen Telesis Alumni.  This class will be helping with the Bridge of Flowers by weeding and planting some new flowers on the walkway and bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

When I hear someone lament that the kids today just aren’t going to amount to anything, I know that’s not true. When I hear people complain that no one cares or does anything to make life better in our community valley, I know that’s not true.  The future isn’t dismal; not when I saw kids and adults celebrating, honoring achievements, supporting each other, giving back to the community, and working together for a brighter tomorrow. 

 

 

 

This month is filled with commencements as our students complete their studies and venture onto the next phase of their lives.  Commencement: yes, it is a graduation ceremony, but more importantly, it is the beginning of something – the beginning of tomorrow.