Waves of black and teal washing over the field at Wolverine Stadium at Deer Valley High School can mean only one thing: the next pack of Wolverines is ready to leave the den and prowl the world at large, following hopes and dreams into an unknown future.

While the 653 graduates of the Class of 2011 have no idea what the future holds, they will face the unknown with confidence, courage and a drive to succeed – the same mindset they’ve used to make it through high school.

“Throughout our high school careers we have set the bar and risen beyond the challenges presented in front of us,” said Senior Class President Aaron Low in his address to his fellow graduates. Despite personal and academic struggles, said Low, his fellow graduates learned the importance of perseverance during their high school journeys and will find success beyond their home at Deer Valley.

Low encouraged the graduates to take the time to thank the people in their lives who helped them reach this milestone, but urged his classmates to take a moment to congratulate themselves and appreciate the hard work and effort they put into their education to get to this moment.

While graduation seemed like a distant concept when they first set foot on the Deer Valley campus four years ago, time has passed quickly, but the years have been painted with memories the seniors will cherish for a lifetime. Low touched on some of the highlights, acknowledging Deer Valley athletes, the band and theater programs as well as the leadership students who went all out to make senior year memorable.

While Valedictorian Nada Rendradjaja agreed that high school has been a memorable experience, she urged her classmates to remember the personal moments that made high school special for them. Maybe it was homecoming or senior ball – or a moment that didn’t involve the entire senior class. But whatever that moment was, it’s to be cherished and honored as an important part of the high school journey. Those special moments have shaped the graduates into who they are, said Rendradjaja, who encouraged her peers to love who they are and pursue their dreams no matter where it takes them.

While Friday’s graduation was the last milestone the Class of 2011 would share at Deer Valley, the ceremony also marked the final time co-principals Scott Bergerhouse and Clarence Isadore would share the stage, as Deer Valley prepares to move to a single-principal system in the fall. Despite the bittersweetness of the occasion, Bergerhouse and Isadore went forward with their traditional graduation speech, offering praise and wisdom in a call-and-response style.

Bergerhouse told the students how proud the teachers and staff are of their academic and personal accomplishments, and Isadore reminded them that once you’re a Wolverine, you’re always a Wolverine. No matter where they go in the unknown future, Deer Valley will always be home.

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