It was high school graduation weekend across the Southern Tier.
Among the many districts, Owego Free Academy held their 140th Annual Commencement. The ceremony, broadcast on News Radio WEBO Saturday morning, graduated over 150 Seniors. They spent the morning reflecting on their experiences, friendships, and education at OFA. Salutatorian Tom West compared his experience applying to college, to asking for a girls hand in marriage.
Valedictorian Lauren Dewey-Wright spoke at great length about the students’ time together with what seemed to be an over-achiever’s vocabulary, but as she explained in her closing remarks, it was not her speech alone, but the speech of the entire Senior Class. Each graduate gave Lauren one word to use in the speech that reflected their own personality, and one that they would recognize as their word when she said it.
The bond between the classmates was strong, but so was Associate Superintendent Bernie Dolan’s bond with the school district itself. Dolan was honored to give the commencement address after spending 39 years with the district, and as one of his final duties before retirement.
