A COMMENCEMENT LIKE NO OTHER

On Saturday, June 6th, 2020, the CRMS community welcomed its newest members of the alumni community in a unique way: online. While many of our graduating seniors wore floral crowns, suits, and the other traditional elements of our beautiful spring ceremony, they did so in their front yards and living rooms without Mt Sopris in the background. The Class of 2020 could not have known four years ago that their graduation would look, unlike any other class that preceded it. However, it still touched all of our hearts to see them with their families, to celebrate their memories and achievements, and to look forward with them past the computer monitors into a future that remains full of hope and promise. Featuring musical performances by seniors Mayan Davis, Sarah Teague, and Lexi White, the program included wonderful speeches by senior speakers Elliot Ochsner and Luke Penton, as well as faculty speeches by William Brown and Marlin Rhodes. Darryl Fuller presented the Charge to the Class of 2020, just before Jeff Leahy “handed out” our traditional leather diplomas online. In so many ways, it’s a graduation ceremony we’ll never forget! To watch the ceremony visit: https://bit.ly/30CK3Xl

“So, go on Class of 2020, move forward and keep making all of us proud, keep spreading your love, closeness, determination and hard work ethic. Impact the world in a beautiful positive way as I know all of you have done and will continue to do. Proudly that is what I can say is part of our school’s emphasis in teaching our students. This is clearly being demonstrated by you the class of 2020. You will make a difference for the better.”

– Faculty Speech by Marlin Rhodes

“While there is truth and wisdom in the saying, ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained,’ I am not suggesting you heedlessly huck yourself into the unknown. But ask you to recognize that while risk can be defined as the ability to lose something of value, importantly it also includes the ability to gain something of value. So, while there is global uncertainty right now, I charge you to get outside and seek adventure, and in so doing try to stretch time and space back into some semblance of a new normal. Whatever challenges come next I encourage you to recall the lessons you have learned on your many outdoor trips and experiences while here. Remember you can accomplish far more than you think you can. If you become lost, lonely, or overwhelmed, or simply need some perspective get outdoors and walk, or ride, climb or paddle and connect.”

– Charge to the Class of 2020 by Darryl Fuller

“Class of 2020, you are not burdened with the task of solving the world’s problems. Society is not a Rubik’s Cube, waiting for a more clever generation with the right algorithm to spin all the boxes into correct alignment. Your personhood is not defined by your ingenuity in addressing technical problems. Your personhood is defined by your God-given right to participate in public relationships with the citizens around you. Listen to each other’s stories. Join a community institution. Get organized. Go and do the spade work to reclaim your political birthright.”

– Faculty Speech by William Brown