Saturday was an important day with B-I-C-S seniors Alyssa Martin, Ava Palmer-Bousquet and Jason Selby collecting their High School diplomas in a well-attended ceremony at the school. Allyssa, as class valedictorian, delivered thoughtful remarks to the audience recalling her early days at school, including being left by the side of the road by her sister after she fell off her bike on one first day of school, but also reminding everyone to live in the moment and not wish time away.
The class picked State Senator John Damoose as their commencement speaker. He spoke about how special it was that each graduate was one of three. He emphasized how unique that experience was and how unique the Island community is as well as a place where everyone depends on everybody, Noting the rancor he said he sees so much of in Lansing and DC, he urged the graduates to capitalize on that experience –being one of three—to help build a better future for all.
After the ceremony the community turned out in force for receptions for all three graduates. All three are headed off to college next fall. Alyssa will study business at the honors college at Grand Valley State University. Ava is headed to the UP and Northern Michigan University where she will start undeclared, and Jason is going to Northern Michigan College in Traverse City to focus on uncrewed aerial systems and automotive technology.
