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With advice from Bishop Ricken and two of their classmates, the Class of 2019 crossed the stage to the cheers of friends, family and staff.  The bishop told the seniors, “Your life is not about you, be grateful, and remember true happiness comes from giving yourself away.”

Micah Dennis, who gave the welcoming speech when the commencement service began, compared the four years of high school to the ever popular Build-a-Bear.  Starting with the freshman year and going through senior year, Dennis explained how, like the bear, they had gone from being stuffed to getting a new uniform to wear out into the world.  Now that they were “checking out,” she urged her fellow seniors to “thank your parents and teachers for building you.”

“This is a day to remember,” she said.  “It can’t be forgotten. The future has just begun.”

Finally, after all 162 graduates walked across the stage and received their diplomas, Ashley Tuszka, whose speech was organized around theatrical terms, reminded her classmates that “hard work will lead to our success.  We are the stars; we are the directors of our own movie.”

Receiving special recognition were valedictorian Zach Kellner and salutatorian Wesley Glime.

Science teacher Andrea Hearden served as master of ceremonies.  Campus minister Daniel Kriegl coordinated the mass. Members of the Norbertine community and the NDA School Board were onstage dignitaries.

Ultimately, though, the stars of the show were the 162 graduates.