Greetings XCI #2 - Wayland Academy

O
n the morning of May 24, 2009, Wayland’s
graduating class walked in joyful procession, bedecked in cap and
gown, into Lindsay Gymnasium to receive the long-awaited award
for their efforts of four years of college preparatory study. The
weather (always unpredictable in Beaver Dam) was kind and
supportive to these young adults whose Wayland Big Red caps and
gowns glistened in the morning sun as they entered the space
from which they would leave, at last, alumni: the graduating Class
of 2009.
Class President
Shirley Wu
Co-salutatorian
Mark Bruning
Co-salutatorian
Brendan Weinstein
Commencement `09 was one to remember with excellent speeches from four eloquent
seniors as well as a moving keynote address from Wisconsin’s Governor Jim Doyle. The
celebration began with the `09 class president, Shirley Wu, welcoming the community and
announcing that this “Class of 2009” should really be termed “the family of 2009.”
The first speech was from co-salutatorian, Mark Bruning, whose reputation for humor and
brevity did not disappoint the masses. In his own introduction he explained that his speech
would have three distinct qualities to it. He said, “one, it will be noticeably shorter than most
of the speeches heard today; two, it will cover basics, and I won’t go into incredible detail;
three, it will somehow still get the job done.” In the end, his message was — and did — just
that. He concluded: “Class of 2009, the best advice I can give to you is live one day at a time.
Do everything to the fullest, and have fun doing it.”
The second co-salutatorian took a completely different approach and explored a thematic
link between Wayland’s boarding experience and the most popular fiction of his generation:
the Harry Potter series. Brendan Weinstein’s talk was simultaneously hilarious and
profoundly moving, as he wove together his favorite characters and themes from Harry
Potter books with his four years of Wayland life. In recalling his initial impressions of the
Academy, Brendan explained that “Mr. Osvald [Brendan’s mentor], with his comely beard,
gentle but broad-stroked walk, and above-all his ability to openly converse with students,
became Hagrid.”
www.wayland.org
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THE CLASS OF 2009