Be creative and don’t fear being different was the message for students and their supporters at an awards ceremony on Feb. 26.
The Clarkston Foundation for Public Education recognized 32 students from Clarkston High School, Clarkston Junior High school and Sashabaw Middle School. Student received awards recognizing their accomplishments in visual and performing arts.
Students had breakfast before hearing words of wisdom from school leaders and receiving a certificate recognizing their achievements.
Clarkston Community Schools Deputy Superintendent Shawn Ryan opened the ceremony after breakfast and introduced Foundation President Carl Matisse, who asked students to thank parents for providing a home which allows them to excel at school.
When Clarkston Schools Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock spoke, he said it’s important for students to know the importance of conversation and asked attendees to discuss with their table, ‘what is beautiful.?
At one table, the idea of beauty was diverse and thoughts of what it means flowed with ease.
‘It’s beautiful when kids are unsure of what they want to be. They are an open canvas – that is beautiful,’said one attendee.
‘At a cottage up north I walked down to the beach and I thought how beautiful it was. I would say nature is beautiful,? said another.
‘Eagles are dangerous and big. I love how their wings collide through the sky. I would say birds and all animals are beautiful,? award winner Elanor Wyckoff explained.
‘Coffee, is beautiful,? said one with a chuckle.
‘Any experience can be beautiful,” continued Rock.
Beauty is different for everyone. As time passes, the thought of beauty changes.
‘One hundred years ago, beauty was much different than it is today,? he said.
At times, beauty comes to us in unusual ways, Rock added. There can be beauty in failure.
‘Taking big risks means you will fail, but sometimes those failures lead to great success if you try and try again,? he said, adding even professional basketball players miss 75 percent of their shots.
You can also find beauty in unusual places.
‘How often do you see something like an imperfect photograph that is blurry or has some other flaw and see it is beautiful in a different way,’Rock asked.
Other leaders had some different advice.
Ryan encouraged students to be open minded and learn to use their natural gifts in life.
‘Ask for help when you need it,? he said.
Clarkston High School Principal Gary Kaul said art allows us to express ourselves.
‘Students and adults, use your talents for the creativity, and share it with the world around you,” he said.
Kaul encouraged students to use their passion to learn from others with the same passion.
‘Go above and beyond expectations, and don’t let mistakes get you down,” he said.
School officials asked award winning students for some advice to pass onto others.
Be enthusiastic about what you do and don’t give up, was among the advice. Other advice included work and practice hard, keep moving forward and persevere through problems.
Students also had some words of advice.
Rachel Kociba said ‘be a leader and don’t look down on others.?
Melissa Navarre added, ‘use constructive criticism to your advantage.?
‘Don’t be afraid to try something new, and keep an open mind,? said Grace Nolan.
‘Don’t give up,? smiled Jake Phelps.
Clarkston Foundation is supported by and consists of community members, families and teachers. Each year the non-profit group enriches the lives of students by sponsoring numerous activities from awards to camp scholarships.
For more information visit www.clarkstonfoundation.org.