Tom Murray's Preamble to Valedictorian Speech of Katie Schmalz ...

Tom Murray’s Preamble to Valedictorian Speech ofKatie Schmalz ‘10Guest Speaker Senator Dayton, Board of Education Director Costain, Superintendent Dr.Green, Associate Superintendent Dr. Cassellius, Principal Harris, Administrators, Staff,Students and Patrick Henry Families, Nax Xiong, Good afternoon and welcome toPatrick Henry’s 69 th Annual Senior Graduation Day. I am Tom Murray, a Teacher hereat Patrick Henry and your host for today’s event.Patrick Henry originally started out as a junior high school in 1925—in 1938 those juniorhigh students stayed on each year until they became Patrick Henry’s first Seniorgraduating class. We have been graduating outstanding young men and women fromPatrick Henry since 1941.In fact, our Valedictorian, Katie Schmalz’s great uncle James Erickson graduated fromthat class in 1941, then enlisted and fought in World War II as a Navy Pilot. Mr.Erickson eventually returned to teach at Patrick Henry and the Minneapolis PublicSchools for 37 years. He was present for his little sister’s graduation in 1949. And thatlittle sister, Katie’s grandmother, Patricia Erickson Schmalz is here with us today.Katie’s parents also graduated from Patrick Henry, her father Tom in 1980, her mom Suein 1982. Katie’s Uncle John graduated in 1977 and is here from Connecticut with hisfamily. Almost all of Katie’s family from all over the United States are here to celebratewith us today.The same sort of stories could be told about the Jennings, the Loumas, the Washingtons,Vangs, Xiongs, and so on. Today, we are all one family---one big strong Patrick Henryfamily and we are here to honor this Patrick Henry Class of 2010.These students before us have left us with a deep and profound legacy of achievements—most notably a record of service that have bettered the lives of all at Patrick Henry and inour community. I know of no other student in this great class who has given more of herheart and soul to bettering the lives of students at Patrick Henry and our community thanKatie Schmalz, the President of our National Honor Society and our Valedictorian.Please rise and welcome our niece, our sister, our daughter, Katie Schmalz, theValedictorian of the Class of 2010.Hello. My name is Katherine Schmalz. On behalf of the class of 2010, welcomefamilies, friends, community members, staff, and honored quests, including formerSenator Mark Dayton, to the Patrick Henry commencement class of 2010.

I still remember that fall day many years ago when my parents put me on the bigyellow school bus for my first day of Kindergarten. I’m sure you do as well. We mayhave not known it then, but that day was the first of a critical and life changing thirteenyear quest for knowledge; A long quest in which we traveled through several schools,made new friends and saw other friendships end. On that quest we learned about andexperienced the world around us. We grew both physically and mentally. Despite ourdifferent paths, that quest brought all of us to Patrick Henry, a place full of uniquememories and stories, and a place where we pursued immense knowledge. That questends today. You may ask yourself, what do we do then with all of the knowledge that wehave acquired over the past thirteen years? As Russian playwright Anton Chekhovasserts, “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice”.But how can we put our knowledge into practice? Many of us wonder when wewill ever need the countless math formulas we learned, and we may question theimportance of knowing dates in history or understanding the major themes in a novel.Has everything that we have been taught merely preparation for trivia shows such asJeopardy, Cash Cab, or Are You Smarter Than a 5 th Grader?English author and priest, Dean William R. Inge argues, “The aim of education isthe knowledge not of fact, but of values.” Over the past thirteen years we have learnednot only academic facts, but we have also practiced how to be open-minded and respectdiversity, how to be self-confident and honest, how to solve problems, and how to be ofservice to others. We grasp the tools necessary to impact the world around us. Thesetools are necessary as we start a new quest into adulthood.

As they did on that first day, our parents and loved ones will be watching andwaving goodbye as we start on our new journey. Whether they are driving us to theairport, moving us into our dorm rooms, carpooling with us to our new job, or walking usdown the aisle, these individuals will be there to support us and let us go. As before, wewill start our new quest on different paths and apply the things we have learned indifferent ways. You will choose the path you take. Enjoy and appreciate this journey.As German writer Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe once said, “Knowing is not enough; wemust apply”.So take what you have learned and apply it to the real world, class of 2010.Embrace all of the new experiences that you will have in your next journey. Althoughhigh school may be at an end, learning is a process that never ends. You will continue toacquire knowledge throughout your life. It is important that we do not forget the lessonswe have learned nor the people we have met. These people and experiences haveinfluenced the men and women we have become. Just as we began our quest forknowledge on a big yellow school bus, our journey has brought us here on another bigyellow school bus. Although we entered the quest as young strangers, today we willleave it as old friends. Although as we step off the school bus we will each take our owndirection, I am confident that our paths will cross again. As a college mentor of mineonce said, “there are no good-byes just always I’ll see you soon”. See you soon Class of2010.- Katherine Schmalz, Valedictorian, Class of 2010Please continue to read for notes on Katie’s great uncle, Mr. James Erickson, who wasreferred to in the Preamble to Katie’s Valedictorian’s address….

Erickson, James W. age 87, of Golden Valley, MN, passed away inPunta Gorda, FL on Palm Sunday 3/28/2010. Beloved father,husband and grandfather. Survived by the love of his life for 55+years, wife Donna; son, Jeff (Mary VandenBosch); daughters, Jill(John Eggert) and Kim (Kevin) Birkland; the greatest gift of hisgolden years, grandchildren, Cooper, Sierra and Oliver Birkland;sister, Pat Schmalz; and loving nieces and nephews. Predeceased byparents, Agnes and Edward; and brother, Wallace. Proudly served his country as a WWIINavy Pilot. Relished and retired from a 37 year career as a Mpls. Public School teacher.Unparalleled father, husband and grandfather. Active outdoorsman, incredible craftsmanand all around "happy camper." "With endless love we say our final good-byes, as ourhusband & father returns to his first love as a pilot of the skies. Forever more now, withthe angels he now flies." Memorials preferred to American Heart Association or CalvaryLutheran Church. Interment Sunset Cemetery. Funeral service Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at11 AM at Calvary Lutheran Church, 7520 Golden Valley Rd., Golden Valley. VisitationMonday from 5-7 PM at: Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St.& Hwy 100