“Whatever it takes.”
That is what the Columbus Signature Academy New Tech Class of 2021 did to make it to commencement on Thursday night and what students and staff did to thrive amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Jim Roberts.
CSA New Tech had its 2021 commencement at Columbus East High School’s football field Thursday night. The in-person setting was undoubtedly a welcome change to families after last year’s virtual ceremony.
However, the night still looked different than the past. Graduates wore masks and social distanced, and guests were asked to do the same. The event was not ticketed, likely due to the school’s small student population. There are 91 graduates in the 2021 class.
Roberts also reflected that while this might not be the school district’s first outdoor graduation, it is likely the first one in a while.
The unique events of the past year did not go unmentioned by speakers. In his opening address, Principal Mike Reed commended graduates for their hard work amid difficult times.
“All of you have demonstrated great perseverance through an especially challenging senior year,” he said. “This diploma represents your determination, work ethic, drive, and desire to succeed. You have crossed the finish line.”
UDL Facilitator Laura Burbrink likewise said that the graduates have “a tenacity that is unparalleled.”
“You are world-changers,” she said. “I have know doubt that when you leave today, the world has no idea what is to happen.”
Graduate Brock Burbrink noted that students’ time at CSA has equipped them with the problem-solving tools to make those changes. He gave Reed and the school a toolkit symbolizing those skills and left his fellow students with some advice about what to do with them.
“Whether you’re going straight into the workforce, trades, military or higher education, do so with intentionality and the use of the tools we’ve been given,” he said. “Do not settle, but build each day with determination and integrity. Set your sights on your goals and do not stop until you reach them.”
Graduate Emma Edwards said that in addition to skills, the CSA experience has also given her and other students wonderful memories.
But when it came time for her senior year to begin, she and other students had “low expectations” for how their final year would play out, especially after watching the class of 2020 miss important milestones.
“However, I think I can speak for more than myself when I say this year exceeded expectations,” she said. “While it may not have been the senior year we always hoped for, we still made the most of it, and I don’t think I have laughed more in a single school year than I did this past one. Being isolated for so long helped us realize that we shouldn’t take one another for granted.”
She added that the challenges students faced “only brought us closer.”
In his speech to graduates, Roberts said that he went into the 2020-21 school year with a drive to make it a good one.
“I announced to our staff members, perhaps to some chagrin, that this was ‘the year of yes,’” he said. “’Yes, we can. Yes, we are. Yes, we will.’ We would again do whatever it takes to make this the best year possible, given the unusual circumstances, to ensure that each of our students, each of you, could have a productive school year.”
He expressed pride for what students and staff have achieved. Now, he said, these graduates are entering a race that takes them “into the real world.”
“You have done whatever it takes,” he said, before bursting into a stream of lyrics from the Imagine Dragons song “Whatever It Takes.”
“’I was born to run. I was born for this,’” he finished, then told graduates, “You were born to run. You were born for this. This moment. This day. And after today, take everything you have learned and run toward your dreams. You already have run through a wall, have done whatever it takes to get here today. I know that you will also do whatever it takes to get somewhere, there, the place of your dreams, as you run off into your tomorrow.”
However, while graduates may go their separate ways, Emma said that they will still be bound together.
“CSA will always be our home,” she said. “And while the physical distance between us may grow, it will always be with us, in our hearts and in our memories.”
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Number of graduates: 91
Principal Mike Reed said that CSA New Tech does not have a separate class rank since all students have a home school of either East or North.
This year, two CSA students tied for East’s valedictorian spot, Brock Burbrink and Emma Edwards.
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A livestreamed video of CSA New Tech’s graduation ceremony is available on the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s YouTube channel.
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Hauser: 8 p.m. Friday n the Hauser gymnasium. Each student gets eight tickets for guests. Principal David Wintin said earlier this year that the ceremony will also be livestreamed.
Columbus East: 9 a.m. Saturday on East’s football field. In the case of poor weather, the event will be moved to 2 p.m. or an evening time, which could be any time between 5-8 p.m. Each student gets six tickets for guests.
Columbus North: 11 a.m. Saturday on North’s football field. In case of poor weather, the event will be moved to 4 p.m. or an evening time, which could be any time between 5-8 p.m. Each student get six tickets for guests.
Both North and East’s graduation ceremonies will be livestreamed on BCSC’s YouTube channel.
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For more photos, go to therepublic.com.
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