Of the 342 members of the Seymour High School Class of 2023, 138 met the qualifications of the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma and/or Technical Honors Diploma.
Also, 126 received the Indiana Core 40 Diploma, and 18 earned the Seymour Community Schools Class Scholars award.
The latter was presented by their parents during Sunday’s graduation in the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium. The award was instituted in 2000 to encourage students to take a rigorous program of academic studies. Students must complete a minimum of 54 credits and all of the requirements of the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma and earn grades of B or higher in 11 semesters of Advanced Placement courses.
This year’s scholars are Jude Bane, Chase Burke, Samantha Carter, Samuel Chandler, Marlo Cornn, Ekaterina “Katya” Cox, Hunter Heckman, Elizabeth Kloote, Caley Monnier, Paul Montgomery, Maria de Jesus Morales-Acevedo, Nicole Rebber, William Smith, Liza Stuckwisch, Ty Stuckwisch, Brody Unterseher, Mackenzie Waskom and Emma Wichman.
At graduation, Cox, the valedictorian, and Montgomery, the salutatorian, delivered addresses.
After issuing thanks to her family, friends and classmates, Cox praised the school corporation’s staff members for being some of the most important members of the village that raised her and her peers.
“Absolute angels who have graced the Earth with their presence, my heart had never known such human perfection could possibly exist until I met the teachers of Seymour, Indiana,” Cox said. “They were here to reinforce the positive attributes of our home situations and compensate for unfavorable household circumstances. Our teachers were our extra mothers, fathers and big brothers, people that we run to with our guess whats.”
While they were amazing at teaching, more importantly, Cox said they are amazing people.
“We grew up seeing stories about superheroes and how people can be stern yet have hearts of gold, and these tales materialized into our teachers,” she said. “They not only have the capabilities of saving lives but also of giving them meaning. Our teachers made us feel worthy of admiration and safe within their classrooms.”
They may not know all of the conversations students have had about how much they absolutely love and adore them, she said.
“They’ll never fully comprehend how hundreds of people attribute a part of themselves to the teachers that daily went out of their way to demonstrate the very best parts of humanity. I want to be like these people when I grow up,” Cox said.
“I wish to exude the same comfort our history department has. I want to exhibit the same wit of my science and math teachers. I hope to radiate the same confidence and welcoming demeanor shown to me by my English teachers,” she said. “To every teacher I have ever had the honor of having, thank you so much for being exactly the people you are.”
Next, she thanked administration, which she said is composed of some of the strongest, most admirable people.
“Despite any stress they face, they never fail to be super duper ice cream scooper,” Cox said.
She then said humans are nothing more than mirrors choosing what they wish to reflect, and she will always and forever only reflect the good of this world.
“The bad is undeniable, but I will pay it no mind. It will not be visible in my image,” she said. “As a little girl, I desperately needed to know that there were good people, truly good people in this world. I need to thank myself for becoming an adult that my past version of myself would feel happy and safe with. I hope you choose to do the same for the little you that resides deep in your heart.”
To her classmates, she said life is now in their hands, which is nerve-racking and yet so exciting.
“In front of me, I see a lot of people with good hands. You, my friends, are going to thrive,” she said. “Life for us is supposed to be uphill from here, but walking up a hill has never been easy. I, however, believe in our collective ability to overcome any challenges we are presented with. After all, we did make it here, in spite of it all.”
In conclusion, she thanked everyone who has positively affected her life and given her the ability to confidently stand in front of this world, look it straight in the eyes and say, “I am Ekaterina Andrea Cox, and I refuse to be anything less.”
Montgomery shared a few parting words with the Class of 2023.
“If you’ve ever had Mr. (Shane) Fallis as a teacher, you’re probably familiar with the John Lennon quote ‘Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,’” he said. “I think it would come as a surprise to realize how much of the past four years we’ve spent waiting for what comes next.”
Whether it was the long months of the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, the tired days of chasing colleges and scholarships or the grueling minutes of a speech in a hot gymnasium, Montgomery said they’ve all experienced the feeling that time is standing still.
“Days like this remind us that it’s not,” he said. “While the urgency of senior year has demanded that we plan diligently for adulthood, life has been creeping by at a steady pace, gradually turning us into adults.”
He said he still remembers the nervous excitement the class felt arriving at SHS four years ago.
“This place felt like a labyrinth at first, but I distinctly remember being put at ease by the warmth and sincerity of everyone I met,” he said. “Over the years, Seymour has blessed me with the best friends, coaches, leaders and mentors I could ever ask for. But above all else, I looked up to the seniors with profound admiration. Those men and women represented the promise of the mature adult I would soon become.”
Over the years, Montgomery said he went from watching to sharing in their achievements as part of a team.
“I was lucky enough to be accepted into their family, and I cried as I watched them go off and do great things,” he said. “I continue to aspire to be the guiding force that they were to me. Those people were my heroes, and it’s so difficult to register that I’m standing in their shoes at this very moment.”
He said he was proud and honored to stand before a class he knows to be composed of talented, bright and accomplished individuals.
“Everyone in this room has the potential for success, however you define it, and I can’t wait to witness the many great things you will accomplish,” he said. “My advice to you: Know your strengths. Surround yourself with people who compensate for your weaknesses. Strive for excellence, welcome challenges, brace for disappointment and never stop learning.”
He said it has been a pleasure getting to know his classmates, and he hopes their relationship continues to flourish anew in the years to come.
“Seymour has been a great place to be a child and to grow up, and no matter where I choose to study, work and live, I’ll never forget or stop appreciating the time I spent here and the people that make this community so special,” he said. “Thank you, Seymour High School, for turning me into the man I am today.”