Find your passion in life, wherever that leads you
It was time to let the hats fly May 28, as the Cadott Class of 2021, bid farewell to their high school years. With a relaxed ceremony in front of family and friends, the students walked onto the football field one last time as a Hornet. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
It was a unique year, for the Cadott School District, but although they faced adversity, the graduating Class of 2021, never backed down. To celebrate their accomplishments, a commencement ceremony was held on the football field May 28, for family and friends.
For some, it was a time to look ahead, while others fondly remembered the past, such as the time a classmate ran headfi rst into a tree on a sledding field trip. It may have been painful while it was happening, but as co-Valedictorian Thomas Kann reminisced, students found themselves sharing a laugh at the memory.
“I think it’s pretty cool that most of us have known each other since kindergarten,” said Kann.
Kann encouraged his classmates to strive to be the best version they can be and to use the “precious gift of life” that has been imparted to them.
“It’s up to you to decide what you’re going to do with it,” he said, asking that his fellow seniors not merely allow life to happen, but take charge of their happiness. “Happiness is nothing but a mindset. Make a choice to be happy.”
Co-Valedictorian Jordan Gilles’ message was similar and mentioned how the class had conquered any challenges that came their way. Gilles said her classmates had learned to overcome obstacles and not get pushed around.
Most of all, she implored the seniors to follow their passions – whatever that may be.
“Our passions are all unique,” said Gilles. “Passion should be something you want to do.”
Scholarships and awards presented, include the following: Hailey Wellner offered her rose for inspection to family members after the commencement ceremony. Wellwishers congratulated the students, posing for pictures and wrapping them in big hugs.
• Meadow Barone – $250 Cadott Girls Basketball; $500 Lila C. McConville; $200 Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence U.S. Marine Youth Foundation
• Alissa Bejin – $250 Cadott Drama Department; $500 John Phillip Sousa Band Award; $250 National School Choral Award
• Haley Bollom – $250 Cadott Drama Department; $250 Directors Award for Chorus; $500 LeAnn Marie Frank; $500 Nancy Knitter
• Calli Bremness – $250 Cadott Area Historical Society; $500 EO Johnson Business Technologies Employee Children; $500 FFA Alumni; $1,000 Ruscin Memorial; $2,443.46 Tobola Educational Fund
• Montanna Curtis – $10,000 Herb Kohl Initiative
• Karson Dupey – $2,250 Technical Excellence (renewable) • Amanda Eyerly – $250 Cadott Drama Department; $500 Rainbow Raiders Snowmobile Club; $3,000 UW-River Falls Falcon Soar Award and Falcons Fly Higher Award
• Andrew Falkenberg – $1,000 Anderson Trust Memorial; $500 Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative; $1,000 Edith C. Couey; $250 Jerry Irwin Memorial; $250 Service to the Cadott High School Band; $2,443.46 Tobola Educational Fund
• Jordan Gilles – $200 Chippewa Valley Equity Shipping Association; $1,500 Compeer Financial; $1,000 Eugene & Margaret King; $500 FFA Alumni; $500 Future Business Leaders of America; $500 Junior High Student Council; $500 River Country Co-op; $500 Ryan Wilson Memorial; $2,443.46 Tobola Educational Fund; $1,000 Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association; $1,000 Wisconsin Elks Association
• Thomas Kann – $2,250 Academic Excellence (renewable); $2,443.46 Tobola Educational Fund; $1,000 UW-Eau Claire Freshman Honors
• Jada Kowalczyk – $250 Cadott Girls Basketball; $1,000 Wisconsin Professional Police Association
• Taylor Lindsay – $500 Albert A. Tannler; $500 Chippewa County Farm Bureau; $500 Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative; $200 Chippewa Valley Equity Shipping Association; $1,500 Compeer Financial; $500 FFA Alumni; $500 Jim Falls Lions Club; $100 National Honor Society; $500 River Country Co-op
• Cason Lorenzo – $4,500 UW-Eau Claire Cinthia and Horacio Rozanski Chancellor’s Diversity (renewable); $2,500 UW-Eau Claire Pablo Foundation Chancellor’s Diversity (renewable)
• Tyler Matherne – $1,000 UW-Stout Promising Student; $1,000 UW-Stout Goodman Family Endowed
• McKenzie Prokupek – $1,000 Anderson Trust Memorial; $250 Cadott Area Historical Society; $250 Cadott Girls Basketball
• Madison Sommerfeld – $500 Lee Danielson and Larry Milling
• Sarah Steiger – $250 Cadott Drama Department
• Kaileigh Tice – $2,443.46 Tobola Educational Fund
• Nelson Wahl – $600 A. Pat Mrotek/Ed Lenard Cadott Wrestling Club; $1,000 Ruscin Memorial
• Hailey Wellner – $75 Booya Days; $1,000 Cadott Community Association
• Autumn Yeager – $250 American Legion Auxiliary Merit; $1,000 Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
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Hailey Wellner offered her rose for inspection to family members after the commencement ceremony. Well-wishers congratulated the students, posing for pictures and wrapping them in big hugs. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]
