Central, Notre Dame graduates take a step toward the future

Proud parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents filled seats at several venues Sunday to watch and celebrate as hundreds of area seniors close the doors on their high school education.

A total of 118 students received their diplomas at Notre Dame Regional High School's commencement, where principal Brother David Migliorino bragged about the class of 2010's accomplishments.

"Seventy percent of the class received scholarships in excess of $4.5 million," he said before the ceremony. "They are a wonderful class."

Amanda Bruns, a Regents Scholarship recipient who will be attending Southeast Missouri State University in the fall, hopes to one day return to Notre Dame.

She said she'll be majoring in secondary English education. During high school, Bruns was the assistant theater director for many of the school's productions. She said she enjoyed helping direct the student body's latest production "The Sound of Music."

"Getting to see it started and then watch the finished product, that was a lot of fun," Bruns said.

Like Bruns, a number of Notre Dame graduates chose to attend Southeast, according to senior guidance counselor Amanda Mueth.

"I would say a lot of them were more influenced by scholarships than in past years," Mueth said.

Before the presentation of diplomas, salutatorian John McLain addressed the student body.

While his message of good decision making was aimed at the graduating class, he also spoke to the audience and asked all who were not graduating Sunday to stand during a portion of commencement. McLain thanked parents, teachers and other influential adults in graduates' lives for leading them to their high school successes.

"You've empowered us with life-changing lessons," McLain said.

Allison Wolz, a Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate, also addressed her peers at commencement Sunday at the Show Me Center, encouraging them to see their life as a stage and each year in high-school like an act in a play.

"We've come together as the class of 2010 and I couldn't ask for a better cast to perform," said Wolz, a member of the National Honor Society. "Today our curtain falls ... and we must keep on our toes for the next production."

Trey Grovenor, who was surrounded by classmates before the ceremony, was excited to graduate and move on to the next step. He said his senior year was full of events he'll never forget, including being awarded offensive Most Valuable Player on the football team and being named the only All-State wrestler from his team.

"Sports are the best memories I've got to look back on," he said.

He'll head to Wichita, Kan. in the fall where he'll attend Newman University, which he said he chose because of its standout medical program.

Before the start of commencement, Central principal Mike Cowan called the class of 2010 a "kind and dynamic group of kids."

During the commencement he recognized numerous outstanding graduates including Meg Goodman and Josh Wen, who were selected as two of the Top 100 Graduates in Missouri. Central also had three graduates who are National Merit finalists.

"That's unusual," Cowan said. "I've been here nine years and this is the first time we've had three National Merit finalists. More than anything, I'm impressed with the high level of academic success our graduates have had."

Pertinent Address:

265 Notre Dame Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

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