Poetic Tribute to The MVS Class of
2012
Graduation Exercises: 7:00PM, 7 June
- Victoria Theater
Greetings scholars,
parents, faculty and Friends
To MVS
Commencement, celebrating beginnings and ends.
In Dayton’s Victoria, for this
distinguished event
My most sincere welcome, I am
honored to present.
The
Class of 2012, smartly seated on stage
Imagine
their futures, might baffle even a Sage.
Robust,
charming; numbering forty-nine strong,
Parents
and friends have known well all along.
Your collective endeavors, all tallied
together
May cause rivals to grow bitter and
“snarky.”
Rest assured, your futures will be
bright with rewards
Your brilliance, is simply, no
malarkey.
The MVS faculty, seated in rows
up-front,
Dressed so snazzy in academic attire.
At seven-hours past the hour-of-Noon
They support the goals to which you
aspire.
Look further in the rows; locate the
smiles of your family,
Beaming with pride at who you’ve
become.
Though departure is sad, we’ll try to
keep calm,
Into weepy emotions, we hope not to
succumb.
As principal, teacher, college
advisor,
The supplier of exotic Dum-Dum
lollypop.
Miming wax on & off gestures
around Harkness Table
My role as loyal-fan, is there at the
top.
As a Shakespeare, I ‘make-eth few-eth
claims’
In shaping iambic rhymes, expect
random lags.
Honoring you Seniors, as the maven
among fans,
This poem, arranged and presented, by
“Wags.”
Your
patience, I most humbly request
My
sentiment, far out-weighing my skill.
Attempting
to do justice to all off their traits
Is
like Sisyphus battling the two-sided hill.
Thus, with gathered resolve, I embark.
Attempting to represent these bathed
in bright light.
Hoping to delay their exit, for just a moment longer;
Here are glimpses, which their
brilliance helped to ignite.
First is TAYLOR,
a jovial and charming lad;
During Announcements, known well
for selling “Greenery.”
DAISY and I once returned by
special flight
Due to Turkish agents, whose behavior,
displayed meanery.
SHELBY,
celebrated athlete in any sports arena,
Skilled in
volley, basketball, and running track.
MITCH, not
sure which media he’ll conquer first,
As animator,
actor, or director; he’s no film hack.
ALAN joined
for half-a-year from Shanghai.
Shares a
stanza with STEPHANIE CHOO.
So accustomed
are we to her gymnastic feats
Few were
surprised when Brown flipped for you!
Elder sisters
from the famed Clark gang,
ALLY and
KELS, are doubly-able.
So lucky for
me during spring term’s Great Books
Both were
seated around the Harkness Table.
CLEVELAND and
COLE, noted athletes are both
From young
ages it was all quite apparent.
While STEFAN
guards goals on the soccer pitch,
BEN, during
lacrosse, shakes the nets.
AVERY, though
away for one-short year,
Returned
among good friends and she delivers.
SHANE’s
deep-running knowledge of music
Is why I
refer to him simply as “Rivers.”
Hailing from
rich heritage of artists,
With skill,
ATALIE will appease future clients.
KYLE though
gia-normous in size,
Is in truth,
he’s the most-gentle of giants.
NAJEI heads
for college at Cincinnati U,
Basketball
ranks as her favorite of sports.
CORRI, oldest
of the Johnson girls,
Is equally
skilled on tennis and squash courts.
Having
traveled to Paris, Ephesus, & Rome
SEREENA heads
next to Geneva, confidence intrepid.
ZACH, though
a lesser-known member of “The Avengers”
His super
powers, is why I call him ‘Sweathead.’
Some
might suspect, the next two, like surrogate daughters:
GABS
and AUDREY frequent my office, they do.
Empathetic
instincts and spot-on observation
Some
might question: who counsels whom?
Though
unassuming in demeanor, Erik is composed
On
oboe, he translates musical idea.
SOO
YUN, while in India, found ‘Choco-Pies,’
A
sweet export from her homeland in Korea.
LEMON’s
triumph on the Lax field;
He
batters foes with much ballyhoo.
LOVETT’s
acting and wide vocal-range
She’s
ready for bright lights in West Coast, Malibu.
MICHAEL
helped steer his class in direction
Using
his dramatic and wild-flailing arms.
Understated,
wicked-smart, with always a glint in her eye
Are
but a sample of MAC’s many charms.
With
the MIKUTIS family, much time I have shared,
AMANDA
departs next for University of Lynn.
ASHEEV’s
part of our Advisory’s mystique;
Can
grow his beard darker than most adult men.
JANESH,
still on the hunt for his elusive missing-drill,
Can
conjure a smooth brew of Masala Chai.
When
NATASHA is not leading her class by example,
Battles
evil as side-kick to superhero “Bird guy.”
JAMES,
always bouncing with confident stride
Plans
certain future as lawyer, without hinder.
From
Hanover’s “Point,” one can view 3 Ohio river-bends,
Fleet-footed
Mariss will be their next sprinter.
Two
recent additions to this illustrious class
ELIZABETH,
from Honduras, arrived with bravado!
Adding
to our domestic diversity,
NICK
came from mountains in Colorado.
MVS
Lifers are both, SHAVER and SMITH,
First
met on the playgrounds of EC.
LAUREN
still maintains her signature red hair
ALEX
has grown beyond the height of some trees.
CONNOR’s
advanced skill in verbal debate
A
future politician, seems destined to be.
Who,
on squash courts, appears to have skeleton made-of rubber?
The
eldest son of SQUIERS, known to many, as “G”.
Skills
aplenty brought to MVS Stage
NIKITA
and CLAIRE are no strangers to rehearse.
NIKKI
will attend famed University of D.
STALEY
continues her global traverse.
SHAVONNE
reigns as queen on volleyball court
Shrinking
carbon footprint, she strives to leave behind.
QIANWEN,
an amazing exchange student
Shared
travels through Anatolia, we combined.
ROBBY,
good natured and fun-loving lad,
Emits
high-pitched loud and echoing laughter.
BLI
arrived and enriched MVS
From
the faraway isle of Madagascar.
JACKSON,
a father, could not be any more proud;
Funky
music, Odd humor; we share many similarity.
For
Immersion, BO delved into mixed-martial arts
Might
fulfill role as future Bruce Lee.
Buddhist
travelers in India, I was honored to join
WINCH
and WOOD kept-up a blistering pace.
KAT
discovered power of her “angry eyes”
CLAIRE
handily could win “the Amazing Race.”
With
composure, ARIANNA guided our Stu Gov,
In
hallways, we trade salutes, with a deft “head-bonk.”
LAUREN,
has excelled in every field she has found,
At
Williams, might become composer, physician, or political wonk.
Our
seniors on stage, numbering 49 strong;
A heroic group in personality, courage, and charm.
My
bias aside, great confidence they bring
Imagining
the world, they inherit without harm.
As if ordained, by divine guidance above
Your strengths are epic, down-right muscular.
Signs of your successes and future reward
Shine from the sky, in rays beaming crepuscular.
With
you, I am honored to have shared 13 robust years,
My
emotions, I struggle to keep under fetter.
A
question I pose, which your audience agrees:
Simply:
How could any future class wish to do better?
Disperse
and scatter; are
sensitive words,
When departing to destinations next fall.
A new location, you must also now visit
Down to the land where they greet with a “Y’all!”
Nearly speechless am I, tears welling inside
Sharing the stage before this audience in view.
Be it as Principal, Teacher, and most-fervent of
fans
I am honored to graduate along-side of you.
In closing my verse, rhyme-scheme often perverse,
My poetics might be describes as “erratic.”
In setting you off, we wish also to preserve
Like cherished toys stored-away in an attic.
So join with
me now; Parents, Teachers, Family and, Friends
While celebrated, this chapter’s end soon we will
reach.
Yet another page opens, new dreams to unfurl
News of your triumphs, from you, we beseech!
The praise from your audience, here seated before
you,
Planning gatherings to celebrate, so very
much.
My final words, before continuing this eve,
God’s Speed,
Be safe,
Thank you.
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper
School
Thursday, 7 June,
2012
