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NFL spokesman talks to Saranac Lake grads

Salutatorian Madelyn Mader and valedictorian John Holmlund address the Class of 2018 at Saranac Lake’s graduation ceremony Friday. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake senior class of 2018, numbering 87 strong, graduated Friday evening at the school’s 122nd commencement ceremony.

The graduation was held at the Saranac Lake Civic Center and followed its traditional schedule with a new twist. Instead of addressing their senior classmates similar to years past, Valedictorian John Holmlund and Salutatorian Madelyn Mader presented a video that featured interviews with seniors. Questions they posed about their school days included, What have you learned? What will you miss the most? How do you feel to have finally graduated? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Describe our generation in one word.

School district Superintendent Diane Fox was the first speaker to address the seniors and told them when they step up the stage to receive their diplomas, they will ascend as students and descend as graduates.

The commencement’s guest speaker was Brian McCarthy, salutatorian of the Saranac Lake Class of 1986 who is currently the vice president of communications for the National Football League. Brian mentioned that his father, Ed McCarthy, has been teaching in the district for 51 years, and asked the seniors to raise their hands if they’ve had his dad for a teacher. Numerous hands shot up in the air. Meanwhile, only one hand was lifted when they were asked who hadn’t taken a class from the longtime teacher.

Brian McCarthy said he was fortunate to grow up in the small town of Saranac Lake and told the graduates they should be benefited in the same way as they head out into the world. McCarthy said that he often hears about how hard people work and conveyed that Saranac Lakers have always worked hard. One scenario he described was waking up in the morning when it’s 25 degrees below zero and getting to school.

“I’m often asked if growing up in a small town will make it harder to find a job,” he said. “Your attitude and hard work will carry the day.”

McCarthy’s advice to the graduates was to commit a random act of kindness every day to make the earth better.

“If everyone goes out and commits one random act every day, you’ll spread a little bit of that Saranac Lake magic around the world.”

High school Principal Josh Dann mentioned to the students that he graduated 22 years ago from Saranac Lake, and he described members of the Class of 2018 as “flexible, understanding and having lots of potential.” He told the seniors, “When things don’t go your way, deal with it and press on.”

After the night’s speakers finished talking to the students, the scholarship winners were announced. There were 64 scholarships awarded this year at Saranac Lake to graduating seniors, and they stood to be recognized when their names were announced.

Class of 2018 member Austin Reynolds hands a Saranac Lake flag to Saranac Lake High School Principal Josh Dann before receiving his diploma Friday. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

After the scholarship announcements were completed, seniors lined up, took the stage and received their diplomas. Dann shook the hand of each student and gave them their diplomas in the middle of the stage, and Fox then greeted each graduate and flipped the tassel on their caps as they exited the stage.

The final presentation of the evening was a slideshow that began with pictures of numerous students when they were very young, followed by their photos as high school students. The slideshow also included photos of seniors taking part in school and community activities, as well as the graduates posing with family members.

After the slideshow concluded, Dann told the students that they were now officially high school graduates. And as usual, those words prompted the traditional celebration of tossing caps into the air in jubilation.

Class of 2018 member Austin Reynolds hands a Saranac Lake flag to Saranac Lake High School Principal Josh Dann before receiving his diploma Friday. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Graduates of the Saranac Lake High School Class of 2018 fling their caps into the air at the conclusion of Friday's 122nd commencement ceremony at the Saranac Lake Civic Center. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

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