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(general chatter)
>> ALL RIGHT, I AM THINKING IT IS ABOUT TIME TO GET STARTED.
I KNOW WE GOT FEW PEOPLE GETTING SETTLED,
SO I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET SETTLED.
UM...
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD, OKAY.
WELL, WELCOME-- WELCOME TO OUR CELEBRATION.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU HERE.
OKAY.
I-- WELCOME.
I WANT TO BRING UP SOMEONE TO GIVE YOU AN OFFICIAL WELCOME.
THIS IS DR. JOHN COWLES.
HE IS A MEMBER OF THE NOORTHOEK ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
BUT HE IS ALSO THE ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR COUNSELING, ADVISING,
AND RETENTION SERVICES HERE AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SO IF YOU COULD JOIN ME IN GIVING HIM A HAND.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU, SANDY.
I LOVE WHEN SHE GETS UP HERE-- EVERYONE JUST QUIETS DOWN.
THEY KNOW CLASS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, RIGHT?
(audience laughing)
>> HEY, SHE'S PROFESSOR SANDY-- WE HAVE TO!
>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. (audience laughing)
WELL, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND DR. STEVEN ENDER, PRESIDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
AND WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE 24th ANNUAL STUDENT AWARDS
AND DONOR RECOGNITION.
TWENTY-FOUR YEARS!
HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT?
(applause)
THIS EVENT REPRESENTS A CELEBRATION
OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND GIVING,
THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS WHO MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND NOORTHOEK ACADEMY
HAVE A LONG RELATIONSHIP OF WORKING COLLABORATIVELY
TO ENSURE ALL LEARNERS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL THE LEARNERS
IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.
YOU ALL DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE
AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
(applause)
AGAIN, WELCOME TO THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM
AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
ENJOY YOUR EVENING.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL IT OCCURRED TO ME
THAT I SHOULD PROBABLY INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I AM SANDY BARRAZA, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF NOORTHOEK ACADEMY,
AND... (applause, cheering)
WOW, YOU GUYS ARE VERY KIND.
SO THIS IS WHEN I GET TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR YEAR
AND THE FUN THAT WE'VE HAD,
BUT I DO WANT TO QUICKLY JUST ACKNOWLEDGE SOME PEOPLE
THAT ARE WITH US TONIGHT BEFORE I DO THAT.
WE HAVE QUITE AN AUDIENCE HERE TONIGHT,
SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS
OF THE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AND THE NOORTHOEK ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS
AND FRIENDS OF OUR STUDENTS,
AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME CASEWORKERS HERE
AND I THINK SOME DONORS AS WELL.
SO WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR COMING
AND BEING A PART OF OUR CELEBRATION.
OKAY, SO THIS WAS A BUSY AND A FUN FILLED YEAR FOR US
AT NOORTHOEK ACADEMY.
WE STUDIED THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO DURING THE FALL,
AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY LONG TIME AGO
BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME.
IN ORDER TO LEARN ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORING COUNTRY OF OURS,
WE REALLY HAD TO DELVE INTO THE RICH CULTURE THAT IT GIVES.
WE STUDIED THE ANCIENT AZTECS AND MAYANS,
AND WE EXPLORED HOW THESE ANCIENT CULTURES
SHAPED THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO.
WE LEARNED HOW THE HISTORY OF MEXICO
AND THE UNITED STATES ARE VERY MUCH RELATED.
WE DIDN'T SHY AWAY
FROM SOME POTENTIALLY HEATED POLITICAL TOPICS.
WE HAD SOME LIVELY CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ISSUES
LIKE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE WAR ON DRUGS,
AND IT WAS ENLIGHTENING, I THINK, FOR EVERYBODY.
MEXICO IS A COUNTRY WITH BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK,
SO WE SPENT SOME TIME--
I DON'T KNOW IF STUDENTS REMEMBER,
BUT WE SPENT SOME TIME DOING SOME OF THE ARTWORK.
WE MADE OJE DE DIOS, WHICH ARE TRADITIONAL WEAVINGS
WITH TWO STICKS AND THE YARN,
AND IT COMES FROM AN INDIGENOUS TRIBE OF MEXICO
WHICH I CANNOT PRONOUNCE THEIR NAME.
MY SPANISH IS NOT THAT GOOD.
BUT I COULD SPELL IT FOR YOU-- AND I ATTEMPTED DURING CLASS.
SO THEY MADE GOD'S EYES-- "OJE DE DIOS."
THEY MADE MOSAICS SIMILAR TO THE ONES CREATED
BY THE ANCIENT AZTECS AND MAYANS.
AND THEY ALSO CAME HOME WITH SOME TISSUE PAPER FLOWERS,
WHICH ARE USED A LOT OF TIMES IN FESTIVALS
AND CELEBRATIONS IN MEXICO.
SPEAKING OF HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS,
WE SPENT QUITE A LOT OF TIME TALKING
ABOUT THE DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO,
AND YOU ALL WILL HEAR SOME POEMS INSPIRED BY THE DAY OF THE DEAD
PROBABLY TODAY.
BUT THE DAY OF THE DEAD IS A MEXICAN HOLIDAY
WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS CELEBRATE LOVED ONES THAT THEY HAVE LOST,
AND STUDENTS, REMEMBER THIS--
THIS WAS KIND OF A DIFFICULT SUBJECT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT.
IT'S JUST SUCH A VERY DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT DEATH,
AND WE EXPLORED THIS IN QUITE SOME DETAIL.
IN MEXICO, WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY BASICALLY HAVE A PARTY
AT THE CEMETERY.
THE PERSON WHO THEY'VE LOST--
THEY BRING IN THEIR FAVORITE FOOD AND MUSIC,
AND IT JUST BECOMES A CELEBRATION.
THIS WAS HARD-- THIS WAS HARD FOR US TO GET.
ONE OF OUR STUDENTS TOLD US--
IT WAS ACTUALLY AUTUMN WHO TOLD US
THAT THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS HAVING AN EXHIBIT,
WHERE STUDENT GROUPS OR GROUPS AND FAMILIES
COULD BUILD ALTARS TO MEMORIALIZE THEIR LOVED ONES,
SO WE MADE A COUPLE CLASS TRIPS OVER THERE,
AND I THINK WE WALKED AWAY FROM IT
WITH A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLIDAY,
AND IT DID INSPIRE A LOT OF STUDENTS
TO WRITE SOME BEAUTIFUL POEMS,
SORT OF IMAGINING WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE
IF THEY WERE ABLE TO VISIT WITH THEIR LOVED ONES AGAIN.
SO AGAIN, YOU'LL HEAR SOME OF THOSE TONIGHT
AND YOU WILL READ SOME IN THE BOOK
THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR CHAIRS.
OF COURSE, NO COUNTRY CAN BE STUDIED
WITHOUT SAMPLING THE FOOD, WHICH WE DID.
(chuckling) WE HAD A MEXICAN FEAST--
WE HAD TAMALES AND RICE AND BEANS,
AND STUDENTS GOT TO ROLL OUT THEIR OWN TORTILLAS
AND COOK THEM, AND IT WAS FUN AND DELICIOUS, RIGHT?
>> (all) YES! >> YES, IT WAS.
YEAH, IT WAS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S SAID ABOUT MEXICO
IS THAT IT'S ONE OF OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBORS,
BUT STILL SO FAR APART DUE TO THE ECONOMIC--
THE IMBALANCE OF THE ECONOMIC RESOURCES,
WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT.
BUT MY HOPE WAS THAT STUDENTS FELT A LITTLE MORE CONNECTED
TO THIS NEIGHBORING COUNTRY OF OURS.
SO THIS LAST SEMESTER WAS ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION,
AND WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
IN COMMUNICATION HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES
FROM SMOKE SIGNALS AND CARRIER PIGEONS
TO THE INVENTION OF THE TELEGRAPH, RADIO, TELEVISION,
THE SMARTPHONES THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE, AND THE INTERNET.
WE TRIED TO LOOK AT THE VARIETY OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE
GIVE MESSAGES TO EACH OTHER THROUGH NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION,
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, ART, BRAILLE, SIGN LANGUAGE...
ALL DIFFERENT FORMS.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS SEMESTER
WAS VISITING THE COMMUNITY MEDIA CENTER IN GRAND RAPIDS.
WE GOT TO SEE HOW A WORKING TV AND RADIO STATION OPERATED,
AND THIS SORT OF INSPIRED SOME STUDENTS
AND SPARKED THEIR INTEREST,
AND I HAD HEARD THAT SOME OF THEM WERE INTERESTED
IN MAYBE PURSUING SOME INTERNSHIP POSSIBILITIES THERE,
SO IT WAS PRETTY REWARDING.
MOST RECENTLY IN MAY, WE'VE SEEN YOUR STUDENTS
PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO ADVERTISEMENTS ON TV MAYBE.
WE'VE SPENT QUITE A LOT OF TIME THESE LAST FEW WEEKS
REALLY DIGGING INTO ADS AND LEARNING SOME OF THE TRICKS
THAT ADVERTISERS USE TO GET US TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS,
SO HOPEFULLY THEY'VE BEEN REALLY WATCHING THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS
WHEN THEY COME ON, OR LISTENING TO THEM
WHEN THEY COME ON THE RADIO.
MY GOAL WAS TO GIVE US A MORE CRITICAL EYE
WHEN WE WATCH THOSE,
AND WE HAD SOME FUN WATCHING COMMERCIALS IN CLASS
AND TALKING ABOUT THEM AND LAUGHING ABOUT THEM, SO...
IT'S BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL YEAR FOR NOORTHOEK ACADEMY.
I AM REALLY PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
EVERY TOPIC THAT WE STUDY, YOU DELVE RIGHT IN.
YOU DON'T SHY AWAY FROM IT AT ALL AND IT MAKES MY JOB
SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.
WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME CHANGES THIS YEAR.
OUR-- SHE DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO DO THIS,
BUT OUR LONG-TIME AND WONDERFUL CLASSROOM ASSISTANT--
THERE SHE IS-- CLARISSA VIENING-BUTLER,
LEFT US AFTER 10 OR 11 YEARS,
SO SHE'S NOT WITH US IN THE CLASSROOM DAILY,
BUT SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING WITH THE POETRY BOOK,
AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER NOW.
SO IF SHE COULD COME UP... (laughing)
(applause) SHE DIDN'T KNOW.
(applause)
WE HAVE FLOWERS THAT WE WANTED TO PRESENT YOU,
JUST TO THANK YOU AND TELL YOU THAT WE LOVE YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH! >> YOU'RE WELCOME!
(applause)
>> WE LOVE YOU, CLARISSA! (audience laughing)
>> SO WITH THE LOSS OF CLARISSA, IT OPENED THE DOOR FOR ANOTHER--
A NEW PERSON TO JOIN OUR NOORTHOEK FAMILY...
AND THAT PERSON IS KATE POWERS.
SHE IS-- I'M GOING TO HAVE HER STAND UP IN A MINUTE, BUT...
(laughing) SHE IS A TEACHER HERSELF.
SHE'S ACTUALLY ALSO THE MOTHER OF A NOORTHOEK STUDENT
AND SHE BEGAN WORKING WITH US IN DECEMBER.
>> (indistinct speaking). (audience laughing)
>> YES, JANUARY WHEN OUR SEMESTER STARTED--
YES, YOU ARE RIGHT, GLEN. (audience laughing)
YOU ARE RIGHT.
SHE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL ADDITION
AND I KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR THE STUDENTS,
AS WELL AS MYSELF, IN LETTING HER KNOW
THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP
HAVING HER A PART OF OUR NOORTHOEK FAMILY.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST STAND UP SO THAT PEOPLE
CAN KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YEAH.
(applause, cheering)
WELL NOW, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING
FOR OUR SPECIAL SPEAKER, WHICH IS JULIET DRAGOS.
SO I AM GOING TO INVITE HER TO THE STAGE IN JUST A SECOND,
BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHO COULD WE GET
AS A GUEST SPEAKER FOR OUR CELEBRATION,
IT MADE SENSE THAT WHAT WE WOULD BRING IN A LOCAL CELEBRITY,
SOMEBODY WHO IS ON TV SINCE WE STUDIED COMMUNICATION,
AND JULIET'S NAME CAME UP QUITE OFTEN
BECAUSE SOME OF YOU KNOW HER, YES, FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
SO IF YOU DON'T, SHE IS THE CO-ANCHOR OF W.Z.Z.M.,
CHANNEL 13.
YES... (chuckling)
SHE VOLUNTEERS HER TIME FOR MANY CAUSES AND EVENTS--
SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF MICHIGAN IS ONE.
THE BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN,
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S RELAY FOR LIFE,
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS,
THE GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM,
AND OTHERS, AND SHE WAS SO GRACIOUS
WHEN WE ASKED HER TO COME AND BE OUR GUEST SPEAKER TONIGHT.
SO I'M GOING TO BRING HER UP, IF YOU ALL COULD WELCOME HER.
(applause, cheering)
>> THANK YOU, SANDY!
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY! >> (all) GOOD EVENING!
>> HEY, COULD I SEE ALL THE STUDENTS RAISE THEIR HANDS,
JUST SO THAT I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY ONE OF YOU?
THIS IS SUCH AN AWESOME NIGHT FOR ME
BECAUSE I'M SO THRILLED TO BE ASKED TO COME TO SPEAK TONIGHT
AND TO BE A PART OF THIS CELEBRATION.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU STUDIED COMMUNICATIONS THIS SEMESTER
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN COMMUNICATIONS
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
BUT BEFORE I EVEN GOT INTERESTED IN COMMUNICATIONS,
I BECAME INTERESTED IN SOMETHING THAT MY FATHER TOLD ME.
MY LITTLE SISTER HEIDI AND I WERE PLAYING ON THE FLOOR ONE DAY--
WE WERE PROBABLY EIGHT YEARS OLD, TEN YEARS OLD--
AND MY SISTER SAID, "JULIE, LOOK AT DADDY'S FEET!"
MY DAD WAS SITTING IN HIS CHAIR, READING THE PAPER.
I'M GONNA TAKE THIS OFF-- SO I SAID, "WHAT?"
SHE GOES, "LOOK AT HIS FEET!
"HIS SECOND TOE NEXT TO HIS BIG TOE IS LONGER
"THAN HIS OTHER TOES!"
AND I LOOKED AND WE SAID, "EWW, DAD!
"YOUR SECOND TOE IS LONGER THAN YOUR BIG TOE!
"WHY IS THAT?"
AND HE SAID, "DON'T YOU GIRLS KNOW WHY?"
AND WE SAID, "NO," AND HE SAID, "BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOU'RE A LEADER.
"IT YOU WERE BORN TO BE A LEADER."
SO BOTH MY SISTER AND I THEN TOOK OUR SLIPPERS OFF
AND LOOKED AT HER TOES AND THE SECOND TOE
WAS A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THE BIG TOE,
SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LEADERS.
SO THAT KIND OF GOT ME GOING.
I WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE SMALLER KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EVEN MY SISTERS WERE BIGGER THAN ME, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT.
THE SEEDS IN MY HEAD WERE PLANTED THAT MY DAD SAID
BECAUSE MY SECOND TOE IS LONGER, THAT I NEED TO BE A LEADER.
SO AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER,
I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN COMMUNICATIONS,
AND EVEN BEFORE I COULD READ, I WOULD LOOK AT THE ADS
IN THE NEWSPAPER-- WHICH IS ALSO INTERESTING
ABOUT YOU STUDYING ADVERTISEMENTS--
AND I WOULD HAVE MY MOTHER POINT TO THE PICTURE
AND I WOULD TELL HER WHICH ONE, BECAUSE I COULDN'T READ.
THEN WHEN I LEARNED TO READ, I WAS SO EXCITED.
I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF READING.
I READ EVERYTHING FROM YOUR FIRST GRADE READER BOOKS
TILL I READ "NANCY DREW."
I READ AS MUCH AS I COULD AND I LOVED IT.
BUT THEN, ONE YEAR-- IN FACT, IT WAS THE SUMMER
BETWEEN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE--
MY MOTHER, FOR MY BIRTHDAY, BOUGHT ME THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD,
AND IT WAS A TAPE RECORDER.
AND NOT LITTLE TAPE RECORDERS, NOT LIKE YOUR PHONES,
BUT AT GREAT BIG TAPE RECORDER.
IT WAS ABOUT THIS BAG, IT HAD A STRAP,
AND IT HAD A MICROPHONE.
AND SO THEN, THAT GAVE ME THE IDEA--
BECAUSE I LOVED TO COMMUNICATE,
I'M GOING TO BE THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTER.
SO I USED TO GO AND I WOULD FIND THE KIDS
AND I WOULD INTERVIEW ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS
AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY LIKED.
THEN I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE WOULD START DOING SHOWS.
WE WOULD MAKE UP A RADIO SHOWS AND TALK SHOWS AND GAME SHOWS.
SO THIS WENT ON THE WHOLE SUMMER.
IT GOT TO THE POINT WHEN I WOULD COME WITH MY MICROPHONE
AND MY TAPE RECORDER-- I'D BE WALKING--
ALL THE KIDS WOULD RUN
BECAUSE THEY "WERE SICK OF BEING INTERVIEWED BY JULIE."
(audience laughing)
BUT I JUST-- SO MY LOVE OF COMMUNICATION BEGAN TO JUST GROW
AND GROW AND GROW, AND SO I ALSO REALIZED
THAT I LIKED TO WRITE.
AND SO, I WOULD WRITE MY PAPERS AND BE VERY DESCRIPTIVE,
AND I HAD A TEACHER TELL ME, "YOU SHOULD BE A WRITER."
SO THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, "WELL, THIS IS JUST--"
I KNEW THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO BE.
I WANTED TO BE A REPORTER AND I WANTED TO BE A WRITER.
AND SO, THAT IS WHAT I STUDIED IN COLLEGE.
I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR BROADCAST JOURNALISM,
AND I HAVE A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN IT,
AND I LOVED IT AND I TOOK A LOT OF ENGLISH AND SPEECH,
AND ALL THE WHILE, I AM LEARNING AS MUCH AS I CAN
BECAUSE I LOVE TO LEARN.
AND SO, WHAT I DID WAS I'D READ EVERY NEWSPAPER--
NOW THIS IS BEFORE WE HAD THE INTERNET.
I'D READ THE NEWSPAPERS, AND WE ONLY HAD MAYBE
HALF A DOZEN TV STATIONS BACK THEN-- WE HAD CABLE.
I'D WATCH ALL THE DIFFERENT NEWSCASTS,
AND ISN'T IT AMAZING FROM WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
TO THE OPTIONS YOU ALL HAVE TODAY AND HOW WE COMMUNICATE?
BECAUSE NOW, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE CABLE, WE HAVE SATELLITE,
WE HAVE OUR INTERNET, WE HAVE OUR TEXTING,
WE HAVE OUR BLOGGING.
SO IT IS JUST AMAZING TO ME THAT YOU ALL WERE ABLE
TO STUDY COMMUNICATIONS AND KNOW WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.
I STARTED OUT AS A WRITER AT A TV STATION--
ACTUALLY, AN INTERN WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE,
AND THEN I BECAME A WRITER, AND THEN I LEARNED HOW TO PRODUCE--
AND WHAT A PRODUCER DOES IS THE PRODUCER DECIDES
WHAT IS IN A NEWSCAST, IN WHAT ORDER IT GOES,
AND HOW MUCH TIME-- IT'S A VERY-- IT'S COMPLICATED.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE
WORKING SO HARD BEHIND THE SCENES
TO PUT THE NEWS ON.
SO I LEARNED HOW TO DO THAT, BUT I ALWAYS STILL WANTED
TO BE A REPORTER, SO I ALWAYS KEPT THAT,
AND I ALWAYS KEPT WORKING AND WORKING, AND I GOT MY CHANCE.
SO FINALLY, I GOT TO BE A REPORTER IN A SMALLER CITY.
I'M FROM PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
AND I ENDED UP GOING TO ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS,
WHICH WAS A MUCH SMALLER CITY AND I LEARNED HOW TO REPORT.
FROM THERE, I CONTINUED ASKING MY QUESTIONS, DOING MY REPORTS,
AND ONE DAY, I GOT A CHANCE TO FILL IN ON THE ANCHOR DESK
BECAUSE THE WEEKEND ANCHOR HAD GONE ON VACATION.
SO I FILLED IN, AND I ENDED UP GETTING THE ANCHOR JOB,
AS WELL AS BEING A REPORTER.
I LOVED BEING AN ANCHOR, I LOVE BEING AN ANCHOR STILL,
BUT BACK THEN, IT WAS LIKE, "I MISS BEING OUT WITH PEOPLE
"AND ASKING THEM QUESTIONS AND LEARNING FROM THEM."
SO THAT IS WHEN MY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BEGAN.
SO FROM ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, I WENT BACK HOME TO PITTSBURGH
TO BE ON THE AIR FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE GRAND RAPIDS
GAVE ME A CALL, AND THEY SAID, "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
"TO COME TO GRAND RAPIDS?"
I SAID, "WELL, I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT
"EXCEPT I KNOW IT'S NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN.
"SURE!"
YOU KNOW, I WAS IN MY HOMETOWN-- WELL, I CAME HERE
AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT, AND THAT WAS 22 YEARS AGO.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING AN ANCHORWOMAN
IN GRAND RAPIDS, IN ADDITION TO MY JOB
AND IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
AND BEING ABLE TO READ THE NEWS
AND ANCHOR THE NEWS ON W.Z.Z.M. 13,
IS MY COMMUNITY WORK BECAUSE I CAN USE MY JOB
AS A TV NEWS ANCHOR
TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE, TO HELP THEIR CAUSES,
TO HELP BRING AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I GOT TO GRAND RAPIDS--
I DISCOVERED SPECIAL OLYMPICS...
(applause) AND I WAS ASKED--
I WAS ASKED TO EMCEE THE STATE SUMMER GAMES,
AND I HAD NO IDEA-- I MEAN, I THOUGHT, "THIS WILL BE GREAT,"
BECAUSE I KNEW SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS,
AND I THOUGHT, "THIS WILL BE SO MUCH FUN."
WELL, THAT FIRST SUMMER GAMES THAT I WENT TO CHANGED MY LIFE,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS?
WE'RE ALL THE SAME.
WE ARE THE SAME.
AND I CONTINUED TO LEARN AND LEARN AND LEARN,
AND THE ONE STORY I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT
THAT I LEARNED AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS,
BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST YEARS I DID IT.
WE WERE WATCHING A RACE-- IT WAS SUMMER GAMES.
I THINK IT WAS MAYBE THE HUNDRED YARD DASH--
YOU KNOW, ALL THE LANES WERE FILLED.
THEY STARTED THE RACE, AND THERE WERE TWO RUNNERS
WHO WERE JUST THE FASTEST--
IT WAS A MAN AND A WOMAN AND THEY WERE RUNNING,
AND THE REST THEY JUST SMOKED.
THE OTHERS WERE WAY BEHIND THEM.
SO THEY WERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE,
AND WE ARE ALL AT THE FINISH LINE SAYING, "GO, GO, GO!"
RIGHT BEFORE THEY GET TO THE FINISH LINE, THE WOMAN--
I MEAN, THEY ARE NECK-AND-NECK-- THE WOMAN TRIPPED AND FELL.
SO DO KNOW WHAT THE GUY DID?
THE MAN ATHLETE?
HE STOPPED AND HELPED HER UP, AND EVERYBODY ELSE RAN BY THEM,
SO NEITHER ONE OF THEM WON THE RACE.
(audience laughing) AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT DIDN'T MATTER TO THEM,
BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY TRIED THEIR BEST.
WHEN THE FEMALE ATHLETE FELL,
THE MALE ATHLETE HELPED HER, AND THAT TAUGHT ME--
I STOOD AND CRIED.
I JUST THOUGHT, "THAT'S THE WAY TO BE."
EVEN THOUGH, OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO WIN.
IF YOU CANNOT WIN, BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT,
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> I KNOW!
AND SO, I HAVE BEEN DOING SPECIAL OLYMPICS
FOR OVER 15 YEARS,
AND ACTUALLY I'M A NEW MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
AND IT GIVES ME SUCH GREAT PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT
OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES IN WEST MICHIGAN,
BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES,
ALL WONDERFUL.
(applause)
BUT THE THING I LEARNED FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS
IS THAT YOU TRY HARD, DETERMINATION, TEAM SPIRIT,
FRIENDSHIP, SELFLESSNESS.
I HAVE MADE SO MANY FRIENDS AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS,
AND MANY OF YOU ARE SITTING HERE TONIGHT.
AND SO, THAT IS WHY WHEN I WAS ASKED TO COME AND SPEAK,
I WAS SO EXCITED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT BEING ABLE TO LEARN
AND ALWAYS KNOWING THAT YOU CAN NEVER KNOW ENOUGH.
YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN-- ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS.
AND THAT IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THANKS TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
SO FOR YOU STUDENTS TONIGHT, I HAVE TO TELL YOU
THAT YOUR SECOND TOE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BIGGER
THAN YOUR BIG TOE TO BE A LEADER.
(audience laughing)
BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HERE TONIGHT
IS A LEADER, AND YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE YOU HAVE LED BY EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE LED WITH DETERMINATION,
YOU HAVE LED BY KEEPING YOUR MINDS OPEN TO LEARNING
SO MANY THINGS FROM MEXICO TO ADVERTISEMENTS, AND YOU--
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU-- IS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS!
(applause, cheering)
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
YES, OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JULIET.
YEAH, YOUR STORY MADE ME CRY, AND YOU KNOW, THE SELFLESSNESS,
THE DETERMINATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS
THAT YOU EXHIBIT TO ME EVERY TIME WE COME TO CLASS, SO...
ALL RIGHT... (chuckling)
ALL RIGHT, OKAY, WE-- LET'S SEE.
ACTUALLY, WE ARE GOING TO...
DO WE HAVE TIME IF WE DO...?
OKAY, ACTUALLY I THINK WHAT'S NEXT ON THE AGENDA
IS IF I COULD HAVE JOHN COWLES TO COME BACK UP-- HERE HE IS.
THIS IS WHERE YOU ALL GET YOUR-- I'M GONNA TAKE THIS--
YOUR CERTIFICATES AND YOUR CONTINUING ED UNITS
FOR THIS YEAR.
SO...
SO WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, JUST COME UP HERE.
YOU CAN SHAKE A HAND OR GIVE A HUG
OR WHATEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
I'LL LET YOU HAND THAT-- I'LL JUST CALL THE NAMES.
LEESHAN ALDRIDGE... (applause, cheering)
MICHELLE ALTENA... (applause)
FRED BEHM... (applause, cheering)
(applause)
I HAVEN'T SEEN JOEL-- IS JOEL HERE TONIGHT?
DID WE SEE JOEL?
NO, OKAY.
JON BOL... (applause)
BECKY BOISVENUE... (applause, cheering)
TERI BRAY... (applause)
GABRIELLE BREMMER... (applause)
GLEN CORNING... (applause)
SANDY CORNING... (applause)
KATHERINE CROUCH... (applause)
(audience laughing)
ERIN DEISS... (applause)
>> YEAH, ERIN!
(applause)
>> ARE YOU BYPASSING ME OR DO I GET A HUG?
AUTUMN DE WILD... (applause, cheering)
MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST STAND UP HERE WITH US.
(laughing) THAT MIGHT BE EASIER.
JAMES DYKSTRA... (applause)
CRAIG EDELSTEIN... (applause)
MELINDA FRANK. (applause)
NOW, MELINDA FRANK IS GETTING HER CERTIFICATES,
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE MELINDA
BECAUSE MELINDA IS THE FIFTH NOORTHOEK STUDENT
TO GET AN HONORARY DEGREE FROM THE COLLEGE THIS YEAR.
(applause, cheering)
SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF MELINDA.
SO THAT IS GOING ON IN A FEW WEEKS FOR HER.
ALLEN GREAR... (applause)
(audience laughing)
>> YAAAY, ALLEN!
(applause)
>> ABEL GUILLERMO... (applause, cheering)
(indistinct speaking).
I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE-- IS TERRY HALSTEAD HERE?
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM.
OKAY, OKAY.
TANIS ***... (applause)
OLIVIA HORRELL... (applause)
OH, SHE'S NOT HERE.
AMY HYDE... (applause, cheering)
JEREMY JAMES... (applause)
GOOD JOB, JEREMY-- GOOD JOB!
YVONNE JOHNSON... (applause, cheering)
GOOD JOB, YVONNE! >> THANK YOU!
>> (indistinct speaking). (audience laughing)
>> REBECCA JOSEPH... (applause)
LISA KIMBALL... (applause)
>> I'M CRYING. >> I KNOW YOU ARE.
(audience laughing)
GOOD JOB, LISA.
(applause)
SADIE KLEIBUSCH... (applause)
KIM KRESTAKOS... (applause)
JANICE KRUGLER... (applause)
CATHY LING... (applause)
>> CONGRATULATIONS, CATHY. >> THANK YOU.
>> BETTY MALMYGA... (applause)
GABE McDONALD... (applause)
GOOD JOB, GABE!
PAIGE MURPHY... (applause)
ISHMAEL NEGRON... (applause)
I DON'T THINK THAT THESE GUYS ARE HERE.
ANGIE PHILLIPS... (applause, cheering)
>> (indistinct speaking). (audience laughing)
>> JOSH POWERS... (applause, cheering)
GOOD JOB, JOSH.
JULIE PRICE-- IS JULIE HERE TONIGHT?
YES, SHE IS.
(applause)
EMILY SHANAHAN... (applause)
ALL RIGHT, JOSH-- ARE JOSH AND QUAN HERE--
ARE THE TWINS HERE?
NO, OKAY.
JENNI SHORT... (applause)
>> (indistinct speaking). (audience laughing)
DYLAN SKLENICKA... (applause)
ELIZABETH SLAGTER... (applause)
>> CONGRATULATIONS!
LEETRICE SOUZA... (applause)
ANDY STROUSE... (applause)
SUE UDELL... (applause)
>> THANK YOU! >> THANK YOU!
>> CONGRATULATIONS. (audience laughing)
>> MOLLY VANDEWATER... (applause, cheering)
I'M HERE AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR HUGS, TOO.
(audience laughing) >> I LOVE YOU, SANDY!
>> KYLEE VAN TOL... (applause)
(audience laughing)
PHILIP VIENING... (applause)
ELIZABETH WHITE... (applause)
>> WANNA HUG? >> I DO, THANK YOU.
(audience laughing)
NO, I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE.
DAVID WOLVEN... (applause)
DO I GET A HUG OR A HAND?
NO?
DENISE ZALSMAN... (applause)
>> I LIKE YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT THAT YOU SAID--
BY THE WAY, REAL QUICK--
SHE SAID AN ANNOUNCEMENT AT 5:30 ABOUT (indistinct)--
>> I DID!
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, DENISE! (audience laughing)
(applause, cheering) YOU ROCK!
>> MARK ZASKIEWICZ... (applause)
>> WAY TO GO, MARK-- I WANT A HUG!
CONGRATULATIONS!
>> (indistinct speaking). (audience laughing)
(audience laughing)
>> ADAM ZIMDAR... (applause, cheering)
>> WAY TO GO, ADAM!
>> ALL RIGHT, WE DIDN'T MISS ANYONE, RIGHT?
NO?
I'M GOING TO KEEP JULIET UP HERE BECAUSE THE NEXT THING
THAT WE HAVE TO GET THEM-- >> (indistinct speaking).
>> WELL, THE NEXT THING WE'RE GOING TO DO
IS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OUT OUR LIFELONG LEARNER AWARDS,
AND THESE ARE SPECIAL AWARDS THAT WE GIVE TO FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN WITH NOORTHOEK ACADEMY FOR FIVE YEARS,
AND THEN 10 YEARS, AND THEN 15 YEARS,
AND THEN 20 YEARS,
AND WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE RECOGNIZING
IN ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES TONIGHT.
(indistinct speaking)...
ALL RIGHT, SO I AM GOING TO CALL YOU UP
AND I DON'T THINK-- SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW
THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING THESE TONIGHT.
SO FOR OUR FIVE-YEAR LIFELONG LEARNER AWARDS,
THE FIRST ONE GOES TO JAMES DYKSTRA.
(applause)
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT ONE GOES TO ABEL GUILLERMO.
(applause)
YEAH!
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> OH, ABEL, ABEL-- WE'VE GOT A PICTURE THERE.
(audience laughing)
ALL RIGHT, I THINK JOSH NGUYEN AND QUAN NGUYEN
WE WERE GOING TO RECOGNIZE, BUT THEY ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT,
SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR TEN-YEAR LIFELONG LEARNER AWARD
AND THAT GOES TO BECKY BOISVENUE.
(applause, cheering)
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ONE 15-YEAR LIFELONG LEARNER AWARD,
AND THAT GOES TO JEREMY JAMES.
(applause, cheering)
GOOD JOB, JEREMY!
ALL RIGHT, AND WE DO HAVE ONE 20-YEAR LIFELONG LEARNER AWARD
TO GIVE OUT, AND THAT GOES TO SUE UDELL.
(applause, cheering)
>> THIS IS SO AWESOME-- CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME!
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING THE LIFELONG LEARNERS HERE,
AND THESE MEDALLIONS JUST DEMONSTRATE THAT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS.
(applause)
IT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU, JULIET.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE HER
WHEN I WAS MAKING SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AT THE BEGINNING,
BUT WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH US TONIGHT,
MISS SHIRLEY NOORTHOEK IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
SHE'S IN THE BACK THERE.
(applause)
YEAH...
(applause)
(applause, cheering)
ALL RIGHT, NOW I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP ELIZABETH CROUCH...
WHO IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR DONORS.
>> WELL, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE,
AND TO HAVE JULIET DRAGOS
JUST DISTINGUISHES OUR ACADEMY AND THERE IS SO MUCH--
SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK AND SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
FIRST OF ALL, OUR STUDENTS-- CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR DONORS ARE HERE TONIGHT,
BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE,
OR FOR THOSE WHO MAY SEE THIS ON THE NEWS
OR ON THE GRCC CHANNEL,
THEY ARE GOING TO BE SO PROUD TO KNOW HOW WELL YOU'RE DOING,
AND ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE STAYED WITH THE PROGRAM
FOR SO LONG,
AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE IDEA OF THE PROGRAM
AND ALSO TO THE WONDERFUL LEADERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD,
AND WE FEEL SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU, SANDY,
AND TO HAVE HAD CLARISSA AND ALSO TO HAVE HAD KATE POWERS.
SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.
(applause)
AS ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
I WANT TO REPRESENT ALL THE TRUSTEES
AND ESPECIALLY OUR PRESIDENT, CY MOORE,
WHO CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
BUT I WANT TO THANK GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FOR BEING A WONDERFUL PARTNER--
I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER PLACE FOR US TO BE
OR A MORE SUPPORTIVE PLACE AT EVERY LEVEL, AT EVERY TURN.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE EXTENSIVE AND KIND SUPPORT
THAT YOU GIVE US,
WHICH ENABLES US TO CHANNEL THE MONEY THAT WE DO RAISE
DIRECTLY TO OUR STUDENTS
AND TO THE BASICS OF JUST RUNNING THE CLASSES
AND TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING FOR THE LIGHTS
AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR STUDENTS FEEL SO MUCH AT HOME
AND A PART OF CAMPUS LIFE.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAD ALWAYS HOPED FOR,
AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT JOE NOORTHOEK HOPED FOR
WHEN HE HELPED US FOUND THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR DESIGNATING JOHN COWLES AS OUR NEW LIAISON,
AND HE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL RESOURCE ON OUR BOARD,
AND WHENEVER WE NEED ANYTHING,
HE'S THERE TO TRY TO PAVE THE WAY.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE KIND SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM GRCC,
THE PROGRAM DEPENDS ON THE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS--
YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
WE DON'T GET ANY PUBLIC SUPPORT.
AND TUITION COVERS ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF OUR EXPENSES,
SO I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THOSE DISTINGUISHED DONORS
WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US OVER THE YEARS
AND HAVE STAYED WITH US OVER THE YEARS--
THAT'S BECAUSE OF YOU STUDENTS.
AND THOSE DONORS INCLUDE THE WEGE FOUNDATION,
THE PETER C. AND EMAJEAN COOK FOUNDATION,
THE SEBASTIAN FOUNDATION,
THE WESTERMAN FOUNDATION, MARY ANN CARTER BACON,
AND THIS PAST YEAR, A SPECIAL AWARD
THAT WAS A COMPETITION AWARD OF $1,000
FROM THE MICHIGAN 100 STRONG ORGANIZATION.
THE NAMES OF ALL OF OUR DONORS, LARGE AND SMALL,
ARE WRITTEN FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME UNTIL TONIGHT
ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR PROGRAM.
WE THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BELIEVING
IN THE POTENTIAL OF OUR STUDENTS,
AND FOR WANTING THEM TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES
THAT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE--
THAT IS, THE CHANCE TO HAVE A COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
AND TO CONTINUE THEIR LEARNING--
AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE BENEFIT OF OUR PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME OTHER CATEGORIES
OF GIVING THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE PROGRAM,
JUST SO YOU KEEP THEM IN MIND,
AND THOSE INCLUDE OUR ENDOWMENT FUND
WHICH IS NOW TOPPING $385,000 TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF $500,000.
THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF GIVING THROUGH THE UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN--
THE HEART OF MICHIGAN UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN.
WE ARE DESIGNATED ORGANIZATION,
SO IF YOU GIVE AT YOUR WORKPLACE OR IF YOU GIVE PRIVATELY,
YOU CAN DESIGNATE NOORTHOEK ACADEMY,
AND THOSE GIFTS MEAN A LOT.
AND ALSO, THERE'S A MEMORIAL GIFT PROGRAM.
AND I'LL GO ON NOW TO THE REAL EXCITEMENT
IN OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS,
AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE BIG STEP WALK,
WHICH IS NOW IN ITS EIGHTH YEAR.
AND OUR GENEROUS PAST SPONSORS
HAVE STAYED WITH US AGAIN THIS YEAR,
AND THEY INCLUDE-- (applause)
THEY INCLUDE THE WEGE FOUNDATION,
THE PETER C. AND EMAJEAN COOK FOUNDATION,
FOUNDERS BANK & TRUST,
AND AMWAY CORPORATION.
AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO ADD TWO NEW SPONSORS THIS YEAR--
THE SECCHIA FAMILY FOUNDATION AND KIWANIS GRAND RAPIDS NORTH,
SO... HOORAY. (applause)
TOGETHER, THERE GIVES TOTAL $19,000.
LAST YEAR, OUR STUDENTS BROUGHT IN--
OUR STUDENTS BROUGHT IN $10,000.
AND THEN, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN GIVE
AND THERE ARE FORMS OUT ON THE TABLES WITH MILE MARKERS
OR WITH DOOR PRIZES, WHICH HELPED TO BUILD THE WALK.
BUT AS YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR LATER,
JUST THROUGH YOUR PARTICIPATION...
THERE'S A SMALL ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS
WHO ORGANIZE THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR,
AND WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE GROUP HAS GROWN THIS YEAR
BECAUSE WE NEED NUMBERS.
THEIR NAMES ARE LISTED IN THE PROGRAM,
BUT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A FEW NEW MEMBERS THIS YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT,
BUT IF YOU ARE, PLEASE STAND UP.
DEB McMAHON, BARB WOLVEN, MATTIE HAMPTON, KATE POWERS,
ELYSE CARBINES, DAWN CARBINES, KATHY JOSEPH,
AND RUTH MILLER-ALBOSTA.
PLEASE STAND.
WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.
(applause)
AND RUTH IS THAT POPULAR LADY OUT AT THE TABLE
WHO HAS THE PARKING VOUCHERS,
BUT SHE'S ALSO THE TREASURER OF OUR FRIENDS ORGANIZATION,
AND SHE'S OUR SPECIAL LIAISON
WITH FOUNDERS BANK & TRUST, WHERE SHE WORKS.
FOUNDERS HAS PARTNERED WITH US FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS
IN OUR ANNUAL WALK, AND WE THANK LAURIE BEARD,
PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF FOUNDERS BANK & TRUST
FOR HER CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THAT REGARD.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO SHINE A LIGHT
ON SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS OF THE FRIENDS GROUP,
FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
WOULD MARCIA CARBINES, ELISE RIPMASTER,
AND DAWN CARBINES PLEASE COME FORWARD?
(applause)
NOW, I KNOW THEY'VE DON'T REALLY LOOK DANGEROUS,
BUT LET ME TELL YOU-- THEY ARE TURBO-CHARGED,
SO WE'VE GOT TO WATCH OUT.
IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, THEY ARE ALL RELATED TO FRED BEHM,
ONE OF OUR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, AND BECAUSE THEY LOVE FRED
AND THEY KNOW HOW MUCH NOORTHOEK MEANS TO HIM
AND TO ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS,
THEY ARE REALLY INSPIRED TO WORK--
AND THEY WORK TIRELESSLY TO BUILD THE WALK
SO THAT IT'S NOW A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INCOME,
IT'S A STREAM OF INCOME THAT WE CAN DEPEND ON YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT,
AND THEY WORK VERY HARD TO BUILD COMMUNITY AWARENESS.
SO IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK,
I WANT TO PRESENT EACH OF YOU...
(indistinct speaking)
NOORTHOEK TOTE BAGS THAT SAY "SUPER FRIEND, NOORTHOEK ACADEMY."
AND THEY NEED THESE TO TOTE ALL THEIR STUFF AROUND.
(applause)
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THE BEAUTIFUL GIFTS
THAT MARCIA HAS DONE AGAIN THIS YEAR AT THE BACK.
JUST ONE OF 1,000 THINGS THAT SHE DOES.
ELYSE PRODUCED THIS BEAUTIFUL DVD
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE LATER.
WE'LL HAVE IT PROJECTED IN HERE
AND OUT IN THE LOBBY WITH HER OWN PHOTOGRAPHY.
IT WAS A TREMENDOUS EFFORT.
AND DAWN HAS TRANSFORMED THE WALK THIS YEAR,
AS ANYBODY WHO'S LOOKED AT THE NEW BROCHURE CAN SEE.
AND SHE IS JUST A BUNDLE OF ENTHUSIASM
AND HAS BROUGHT AN UPBEAT IMAGE
AND A SPIRIT TO THE WALK THIS YEAR
THAT IS GOING TO JUST TAKE IT IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION
AND TO WHOLE NEW HEIGHTS.
AND TOWARD THAT END,
SHE HAS BROUGHT HER PROFESSIONAL MARKETING EXPERIENCE
AND TALENT TO IT,
AND WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE ALL THREE OF YOU.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DAWN,
AND THE STUDENTS KNOW THAT SHE'S ALL FIRED UP
BECAUSE SHE VISITED FOUR CLASSES, RIGHT?
SO FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS. (audience laughing)
(applause)
>> HI, EVERYBODY! (applause)
LOOK AT MY NEW BAG!
ISN'T THIS STYLING! (audience laughing)
IT SAYS I'M A SPECIAL FRIEND.
YOU KNOW THAT'S RIGHT.
OKAY, SO AS SHE SAID, I'M DAWN, AND I HAVE THE HONOR
OF TELLING YOU ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY GREAT.
BUT I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF TELLING YOU THAT I HAVE ONE BIG TOE--
ER, ONE SECOND TOE THAT'S LARGER THAN THE FIRST...
(audience laughing) SO I'M HALF A LEADER.
AND I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF TELLING YOU THAT BEING A PART
OF THE FRIENDS OF NOORTHOEK ACADEMY
IS LIKE THE BEST THING EVER.
SO IF ANY OF YOU OUT THERE ARE SITTING IN YOUR SEATS
AND YOU'RE WONDERING WHETHER YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD.
IT'S THE BEST GROUP.
I AM THE CRAZIEST. (audience laughing)
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AMAZING PEOPLE
THAT WALK AROUND LOOKING LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE,
BUT THEY ARE SPECIAL ANGELS.
SO PLEASE COME JOIN OUR GROUP.
AND ALSO, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET STARTED
AND BEFORE I TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT I NEED TO TELL YOU,
I WANT TO DO A LITTLE ACTIVITY, OKAY?
SO BEAR WITH ME-- I PROMISE I'M RIGHT.
I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
(audience chuckling)
SO DON'T DO IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IN JUST A SECOND
WHEN I RAISE MY ARMS, I WANT YOU TO STAND UP
AND I WANT YOU TO DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.
I WANT YOU TO LAUGH, GIGGLE FROM YOUR GUT,
I WANT YOU TO HIGH-FIVE THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU,
HUG THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU,
YELL OUT A SCREAM, MAYBE DO ONE OF THESE...
(audience laughing) AND YOU PEOPLE IN THE BACK--
YOU MIGHT THINK YOU'RE TOO COOL TO DO THIS, BUT YOU'RE NOT.
SO I WANT EVERYBODY UP, OKAY?
DO YOU HEAR ME?
AND THEN, WHEN I LOWER MY HANDS,
I WANT YOU TO BE QUIET AND SIT DOWN.
OKAY, CAN YOU DO THIS?
YOU GUYS GOT THIS?
>> (all) YEAH! >> YEAH?
MARK, YOU WITH ME?
YVONNE, YOU GOT THIS?
OKAY, HERE AGO-- READY?
COME ON, WHOO! >> (all) WHOOO!
>> OKAY, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
OKAY... (audience laughing)
OKAY, THAT WAS AMAZING BUT WE CAN DO BETTER.
I KNOW IT.
COME ON, GO DOWN TO YOUR PINKY TOE
OR YOUR SECOND LARGE TOE...
DO THIS.
REALLY FEEL IT IN YOUR GUT.
ARE YOU READY?
COME ON, YOU'VE GOTTA GIVE IT TO ME.
READY, HERE WE GO-- GO!
GO, GO! >> (all) WHOO!
>> OKAY, DOWN!
GOOD-- WAIT.
JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING.
WAY TO GO!
HOW GOOD DID THAT FEEL?!
(applause)
DID THAT FEEL GREAT OR WHAT?
>> (all) YEAH!
>> ALL RIGHT, NOW TAKE THE JOY OF THAT THAT JUST FELT,
AND TIMES THAT TIMES 10,
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE WALK FEELS LIKE.
SO I REALLY WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND CONNECT WITH THAT
BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TALK TO YOU
IS THE BIG STEP WALK,
NOT ONLY IS IT THE NUMBER ONE FUNDRAISER FOR NOORTHOEK,
THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR NOORTHOEK,
BUT IT'S ALSO JUST A REALLY GOOD THING
YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF,
AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN MAYBE MISSING THAT IN THE YEARS PAST.
WE'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT IT CAN DO FOR NOORTHOEK,
BUT WE'VE MISSED OUT A LITTLE BIT
OF WHAT IT CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S AMAZING PEOPLE OUT THERE LIKE JULIET WHO NEED US
JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED THEM.
SHE'S SHAKING HER HEAD! (audience laughing)
SO I REALLY WANT US TO BAND TOGETHER
AND REALLY BRING EXCITEMENT.
THIS IS THE EIGHTH YEAR-- ISN'T THAT AMAZING?!
EIGHT YEARS!
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW, IT'S A 2K WALK
AT AQUINAS COLLEGE.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN AQUINAS COLLEGE,
AND WHAT A GREAT, FUN, LIGHTHEARTED WALK IT IS,
AND EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO
IN ALL EIGHT YEARS, I'M LEFT SAYING,
"WOW, THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT TIME."
AND SOMETIMES, I LOOK AROUND AND I'M LIKE,
"OH, I WISH IT COULD LAST LONGER,"
OR "I WISH I WOULD'VE INVITED MORE PEOPLE
"BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SUCH A GOOD TIME."
AND ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WHEN I'M THERE,
I FIND A VERSION OF MYSELF THAT UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF US
DON'T ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO CAPTURE
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME
AND SPEAK WITH ALL OF YOU GREAT STUDENTS-- RIGHT, ADAM?
IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU. (audience laughing)
AND I CHARGED THE STUDENTS WITH SOMETHING
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
I SAID IT'S AWESOME THE INCREDIBLE PLEDGE ACTIVITY
THAT WE'VE HAD IN YEARS PAST IS AMAZING.
AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU OUT THERE
HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DEDICATED TO THAT AS WELL,
AND WE WANT THAT TO CONTINUE,
BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO UNBELIEVABLY FEEL ACCEPTED
EVEN IF YOU CAN'T GRAB PLEDGES.
AND WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT'S-- OOH!
LOOK AT YOU OVER THERE!
>> (indistinct speaking). >> YAAAY, WHOOO!
SO THIS YEAR, THANKS TO AN UNBELIEVABLE PARTNERSHIP
WITH INCREDIBLE PEOPLE AT MARKETING TOOLS INC.--
AND THEY ARE IN THE BACK AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THEM STAND UP OVER HERE--
AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO GIVE THEM THAT GREAT APPLAUSE.
SO WOULD-- PLEASE, MICHAELA-- COME ON, YOU KNOW IT, BABY.
(applause) WHOO!
SO GUYS, MICAELA IS THE BEAUTIFUL PERSON THAT HELPED US
MAKE THOSE AWESOME THINGS THAT WE GAVE YOU--
THE PAD-FOLIO, THE AWESOME LANYARD THINGS
TO REALLY HELP YOU THIS YEAR IN YOUR PLEDGING, YEAH?
SO NOT ONLY HAVE WE GIVEN THE STUDENTS THESE AWESOME THINGS
TO HELP WITH THEIR PLEDGING BUT WE REALLY CHARGED THEM
WITH THE TASK OF TALKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO TALK WITH THE COMMUNITY
AND GET THIS WORD OUT.
SO AS ELIZABETH TOLD YOU IN THE PAST--
OR LAST YEAR, WE HAD RECORD SUCCESS WITH $30,000
IN OUR TOTAL DONATIONS, I GUESS,
AND THIS YEAR, I'M SETTING THE GOAL REALLY HIGH.
I REALLY WANT US TO GET EVEN HIGHER.
I WANT TO HIT THAT $40,000 MARK.
AND I DREAM THAT IN FIVE YEARS, WE ARE GOING TO HIT $100,000,
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE I WANT YOU GUYS TO WORK EVEN HARDER.
I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO WORK EVEN HARDER.
SO WE HAVE CHARGED YOU WITH GIVING OUT 10 BROCHURES, RIGHT?
AND 20 MAGNETS, YEAH?
SO THAT ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THAT YOU KNOW,
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
WILL JUST COME WALK WITH US HERE THIS YEAR.
SO WE HAVE SOMETHING NEW, IN THAT ANYBODY CAN COME AND BE WITH US.
SO WHETHER YOU'VE PLEDGED OR WHETHER YOU'RE A SPONSOR
OR SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO ONE AMAZING STUDENT,
JUST COME AND BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY EVENT WITH US.
SO $5, YOU GET TO COME AND ENJOY THIS ACTIVITY.
YEAH, ISN'T THAT GREAT?
(applause) YAAAY, THANK YOU!
AND THEN ALSO, OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTORS
OF $100 GETS YOU A FREE T-SHIRT AND A FREE POETRY BOOK.
WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?
AND $250 GETS YOU A SPECIAL SIGN OF EXCITEMENT ALONG THE WALK.
AND OF COURSE, $1,000 ARE THOSE AMAZING PEOPLE, RIGHT,
THAT REALLY SPONSOR THE WALK FOR US, YEAR UPON YEAR.
AND AS YOU HEARD, WE GOT TWO NEW ONES THIS YEAR.
ISN'T THAT AMAZING?
(applause)
SO I GOT TO REFER TO MY NOTES HERE.
I'M NOT AS GOOD AS JULIET. (audience laughing)
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE REALLY, REALLY HAVE MADE A NEW LOGO,
WE'VE MADE A NEW LOOK AND FEEL,
WE'VE MADE THIS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY NOW
BECAUSE WHAT WE REALLY ACTUALLY-- I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH--
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS US AS MUCH AS WE NEED THEM.
IT'S A REALLY LIGHTHEARTED, APPROACHABLE,
INCREDIBLE ACTIVITY THAT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO SHARE IN.
SO STUDENTS ARE FREE.
YOU COME AND YOU GET A BEAUTIFUL NEW T-SHIRT-- HOW ABOUT THIS?
ISN'T THIS BEAUTIFUL?
AND ALSO, WE NOW HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PARTY
THAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS, RIGHT? >> YEAH!
>> WE'RE CALLING IT "THE STEP UP CELEBRATION,"
SO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY CAN COME AS WELL.
STUDENTS COME FREE, AND COME AND EAT AND DANCE AND PARTY WITH US.
AND SO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE, I CHARGE YOU WITH THREE THINGS.
I CHARGE YOU TO GET OUT YOUR CALENDARS RIGHT NOW
AND MARK DOWN MAY 11th AND THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE THERE,
FOR REGISTRATION AT 8:30, WALK AT 9:30.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY GETTING OUT THEIR CALENDAR.
(audience laughing) I WANT TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.
I KNOW THE STUDENTS ARE IN, BUT ALL OF YOU OUT THERE,
ARE YOU ALL IN?
YUP, OKAY, GREAT.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING I WANT YOU TO DO
IS I WANT YOU TO BRING THE THREE PEOPLE.
I WANT YOU TO TALK TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY,
AND I WANT YOU TO BRING PEOPLE TO US.
FIVE DOLLARS-- WE'VE SPENT $5 A LOT WORSE WAYS,
AND THIS WILL MAKE THEM FEEL SO MUCH JOY
THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEY NEED TO FIND.
AND THEN, NUMBER THREE, I WANT YOU TO COME PREPARED TO LAUGH,
SMILE, AND HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.
SO I AM SAYING THIS-- THIS PROGRAM IS AMAZING, RIGHT?
NOORTHOEK IS AMAZING.
NOORTHOEK HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLY BLESSED
BY MRS. NOORTHOEK, RIGHT?
(applause)
AND BY INCREDIBLE DONORS.
BUT WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING IF WE WERE BLESSED BY EVEN MORE?
AND WOULDN'T IT BE AWESOME
IF THE COMMUNITY WERE BLESSED WITH US?
SO LET'S DO IT, ALL RIGHT?
IS ANYBODY READY?! (applause, cheering)
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT!
SO NOW, ACTUALLY, THAT ENDS MY PART.
AND WE HAVE THE BEST PART OF THE NIGHT, RIGHT?
>> YEAH!
>> CAN I JUST-- CAN YOU MODEL THE BACK OF THE SHIRT?
>> OH, I WOULD.
>> I WANT HER TO MODEL THE BACK OF THE SHIRT ONLY BECAUSE--
NO, I WANT-- THIS WONDERFUL "BOUNCE IN THE CLOUDS"
WAS INSPIRED BY A POEM WRITTEN BY SADIE KLEIBUSCH
AND I WANTED IT-- THERE SHE IS.
YEAH, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL TITLE AND IT WORKS PERFECTLY
WITH THE WALK AND THE JOY OF THE WALK,
SO WE PUT IT ON THE T-SHIRT.
>> AND LOOK, THERE'S CLOUDS. >> YEAH, SO ANYWAY.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED YOU TO SEE.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DAWN.
OKAY, YES, THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE NIGHT.
I THINK THE PART OF THE NIGHT
THAT MOST OF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST.
STUDENTS-- WELL, ALL OF YOU, WHEN YOU WALK IN,
YOU HAD A POETRY BOOK ON YOUR CHAIR.
THE POETRY BOOK THIS YEAR IS ENTITLED "WINGS OF GLASS"
AND IT COMES FROM A POEM WRITTEN BY DENISE ZALSMAN
WHICH IS IN THE BOOK.
I BELIEVE SHE'S GOING TO READ IT TONIGHT.
AND THE COVER DESIGN IS BY A STUDENT FROM HOPE COLLEGE,
SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR BOOK.
AND RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
IS JUST HAVE STUDENTS COME UP,
AND READ THE POEMS THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
SO WHERE ARE WE-- OH, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH CATHY.
ALL RIGHT, CATHY LING'S--
ALL RIGHT, CATHY'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 39.
OKAY, DO YOU WANT ME TO HOLD THIS?
>> NO, I'VE GOT IT.
HELLO, EVERYBODY.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AND SEE EVERYBODY, YOUR SMILING FACES.
THIS IS "MY LIFELONG DREAM" BY CATHY MARIE LING.
"I'VE HAD A LIFELONG DREAM OF SWIMMING WITH THE DOLPHINS
"AND IT FINALLY CAME TRUE!
"GOD GAVE ME A SPECIAL GIFT WITH ANIMALS AND THEY CAN SENSE IT.
"DOLPHINS CAN SHAKE YOUR HAND WITH THEIR FLIPPERS.
"THEY WILL PUT THEIR SNOUT ON YOUR HAND
"AND GUIDE IT TO YOUR CHEEK TO GIVE YOU A KISS.
"THEIR SKIN FEELS RUBBERY AND SMOOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
"IT WAS AWESOME!"
(applause)
>> NICE JOB.
UH-HUH.
ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT STUDENT IS...
JULIE PRICE.
AND JULIE WROTE A BEAUTIFUL POEM
BUT IS A LITTLE NERVOUS TO READ IT,
SO I THINK THAT I'M READING IT.
IS THAT CORRECT?
OKAY.
BUT WE NEEDED TO SEE THE AUTHOR OF THE POEM STANDING NEXT TO ME.
SO THIS IS "CAMP" BY JULIE PRICE.
"I LOVE TO GO TO CAMP.
"CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS ARE FORMED MAKING ME SMILE.
"REFLECTIONS WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN."
GOOD JOB, SEE?
(applause)
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE KYLEE VAN TOL.
AND KYLEE'S POEM-- JUST IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG,
HER POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 49.
>> "DOLPHINS" BY KYLEE VAN TOL.
"I LOVE TO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS!
"IT'S ALWAYS THE FIRST STOP WE MAKE ON VACATION.
"THEY ARE PLAYFUL AND FRIENDLY.
"MY BODY FEELS CLEAN IN THE REFRESHING WATER.
"I AM PASSIONATE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DOLPHINS."
(applause) >> ALL RIGHT, GOOD JOB, KYLEE!
GOOD JOB! (applause)
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE ADAM ZIMDAR,
AND HIS POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 24.
>> MY TITLE IS "GRANDMA" BY ADAM ZIMDAR.
"I SEE MY GRANDMA IN THE BRIGHT LIGHT
"AND SHE MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL IN MY HEART.
"I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HER
"AND LOVE HER WHEN I LOOK UP AT THE SUN."
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE GABRIELLE BREMMER,
AND HER POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 27.
>> (indistinct) JULIET DRAGOS.
MY POEM IS ABOUT "GEOFFREY DOWNS,"
BY GABRIELLE BREMMER.
"GEOFFREY DOWNS SAVED ME
"WHEN HE WAS GOING ON A FISHING TRIP.
"HE'S AN ANGEL AND A WONDERFUL MAN.
"I COULD HAVE BEEN AN ANGEL TOO,
"ANOTHER KIND OF ANGEL.
"NOW I'M REALLY GRATEFUL."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.
GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE PHILIP VIENING.
COME ON UP, PHIL.
PHIL'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 11.
>> "SIGNING" BY PHILIP VIENING.
"WHEN I WAS A BABY I USED SIGN LANGUAGE
"'DADDY,' 'MOMMY,' 'SISTER,' 'BROTHER,' 'CAT'...
"'BOY,' 'GIRL,' 'DRINK,' 'EAT'...
"MOMS AND DADS TEACH YOU THEIR LANGUAGE SINGING
"AND TALKING AND SIGNING.
"THEY HELP YOU LEARN WORDS IF YOU LISTEN."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB-- THANK YOU, PHIL.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE MOLLY VANDEWATER
AND MOLLY'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 38 OF YOUR BOOK.
>> OKAY, "FIRST DAY" BY MOLLY VANDEWATER.
"THERE IS A SONG SUNG AT NIGHT WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED.
"IT IS THE STORY OF MY FIRST DAY.
"WHEN I WAS BORN, I WAS A NEW BABY.
"MY FAMILY TELLS ME ABOUT THAT SPECIAL MEMORY
"THAT MAKES ME HAPPY INSIDE MY HEART."
(applause)
>> BEAUTIFUL-- THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE SANDY CORNING.
SANDY'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 11.
>> THE TITLE--
YEAH, THE TITLE OF MY POEM IS "FRESH AND AIRY"
BY SANDY CORNING.
"THE RAINFOREST SMELLS LIKE FRESH AND AIRY FLOWERS BLOOMING.
"RAIN FALLS FROM THE BLUE SKY.
"THE BREEZE BLOWS AND THE BIRDS CHIRP.
"I FEEL FRIENDLY.
"IT MAKES ME APPRECIATE LIFE MORE."
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE GLEN CORNING.
GLEN'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 16.
>> "FAITH" BY GLEN CORNING.
"FAITH HELPS ME NOT BE AFRAID.
"I FEEL JOY IN MY HEART.
(audience laughing)
"I KNOW GOD IS WITH ME, LISTENING."
(applause)
>> NICE JOB, GLEN.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE SADIE KLEIBUSCH.
AND IF I REMEMBER-- YUP, SADIE IS READING
THE "BOUNCING ON THE CLOUDS"
THAT WAS ON THE BACK OF THE T-SHIRT,
AND HER POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 34.
>> OKAY, "BOUNCING ON THE CLOUDS"
BY SADIE KLEIBUSCH.
"I'M SAD WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY MOM PASSING AWAY,
"BUT I KNOW SHE IS WAITING TO SEE ME.
"THEN I GET HAPPY.
"I TALK TO HER AND I PRAY.
"I KNOW SOMEDAY WHEN I SEE HER,
"I'LL BE BOUNCING ON THE CLOUDS WITH HER."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB, SADIE.
ALL RIGHT, AMY HYDE IS NEXT.
AMY'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 41.
YAAAY.
>> "DANCING"--
"DANCING" BY AMY HYDE.
"WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL,
"MY BROTHER HELPED ME DANCE.
"I WAS A BALLERINA.
"I TURNED AROUND, AND I TWIRLED.
>> YAAAY!
(applause)
GOOD JOB.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE-- DOES MICHELLE WANT TO COME UP HERE?
>> NOT REALLY. (audience laughing)
>> THIS IS MICHELLE ALTENA.
IT IS REALLY TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT IS SO SCARY.
>> IT IS. >> IT IS!
>> HELP ME READ IT.
>> OKAY, MICHELLE'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 23 OF YOUR BOOK.
WAIT-- OH, I HAVE THE PAGE WRONG.
IT'S-- NO, YOU'RE GOOD.
I'M SORRY, IT'S ON PAGE 32 OF YOUR BOOK.
>> OKAY, "REMEMBER" BY MICHELLE ALTENA.
"I WANT TO TAKE A WALK ON THE BEACH"--
WHERE AM I?
"FILLED WITH"-- WHAT?
"FEELING THE WARM SAND
"ON MY FEET"-- SEE, I'M TOO NERVOUS.
>> NO, YOU'RE GOOD!
>> "LIKE A SUNNY DAY.
"THE AIR IS FRESH.
"I SMELL THE OCEAN REMEMBERING MY MOM."
(applause) SEE, I'M TOO NERVOUS!
>> GOOD JOB, MICHELLE.
ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT?
TERI BRAY-- COME ON UP, TERI.
AH, THAT'S WHY I WAS CONFUSED.
TERI'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 23.
(audience laughing)
>> "REMEMBERING" BY TERI BRAY.
MOM, PLEASE NO PICTURES. (audience laughing)
"I AM RELAXED, FEELING SAD REMEMBERING MY GRANDMA.
"SHE PASSED AWAY AT CHURCH WITH STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
"ALL AROUND."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB, TERI.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE ELIZABETH SLAGTER,
AND SHE'S GOING TO TELL US WHAT PAGE HER POEM IS ON.
>> 42. >> PAGE 42.
>> "NOT AFRAID" BY ELIZABETH SLAGTER.
"THE SUN IS SHINING ON A GRAVEYARD IN THE DISTANT FUTURE.
"IN THE GROUND, IN A CASKET, I WILL LIE.
"I WILL BE WEARING MY 'HELLO KITTY' HOODIE,
"AND BLUE JEANS WITH A DRAGON PICTURE FOLDED IN MY HAND."
(applause) >> NICE JOB, ELIZABETH.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE JANICE KRUGLER,
AND JANICE'S POEM IS ON PAGE 9 OF YOUR BOOK.
>> "SMILES FEED MY SOUL" BY JANICE KRUGLER.
"SMILES ARE LIKE A TONIC UPLIFTING MY SOUL.
"THE SUNSHINE FLOODS MY SOUL WITH WARMTH.
"I FEEL LIKE DANCING.
"ONE STEP, TWO STEP.
"HAPPY TIMES ARE HERE!"
(applause) >> NICE-- GOOD JOB!
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE BECKY BOISVENUE.
BECKY'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 16.
I KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE TIGHT IN THERE.
ALRIGHTY.
>> "MY FEARS" BY BECKY BOISVENUE.
"I HAVE MANY FEARS.
"I FEAR BEING ALONE, UNKNOWN PLACES,
"BEING CHASED, FALLING,
"AND STEAMY HOT TEMPERATURES.
"BUT I FEEL SAFE WITH MY DOG.
"MY DOG PROTECTS ME, AND COMFORTS ME.
"I LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH MY DOG."
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT, WE HAVE KIM KRESTAKOS,
AND KIM'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 45 OF YOUR BOOK.
>> "DESERTS OF MEXICO" BY KIM KRESTAKOS.
"THE DESERTS OF MEXICO ARE--" (sighing)
>> (indistinct speaking).
OKAY, YOU STAND HERE.
ALL RIGHT, "THE DESERTS OF MEXICO" BY KIM KRESTAKOS.
"THE DESERTS OF MEXICO ARE QUIET AND WARM,
"WITH DRY SWISHING SAND, GREEN CACTUS
"WITH PRICKLY NEEDLES,
"AND BEAUTIFUL YELLOW-ORANGE AND RED SUNSETS."
(applause)
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS AUTUMN DE WILD,
AND AUTUMN'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 13.
>> IT IS "FULL OF LIFE" BY AUTUMN DE WILD.
"I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE RAINFOREST SMELLS,
"DAMP AND DECAYED, LIKE AN OLD GARDEN.
"BUT I HEAR THE STREAMS FLOW THE SOUNDS OF SWIMMING,
"AND THE BIRDS.
"THE TALL TREES AND INTERESTING CREATURES THERE
"MAKE ME FEEL HAPPY, FREE, AND FULL OF LIFE."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB, AUTUMN, GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE OLIVIA HORRELL.
NO, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE REBECCA JOSEPH.
(audience laughing)
I WAS DISTRACTED BECAUSE SHE CHANGED HER POEM
AT THE LAST MINUTE,
SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT PAGE HERS IS ON.
PAGE 36, SHE SAYS. (laughing)
>> OKAY, MINE IS CALLED "PAPA" BY REBECCA JOSEPH.
"EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD WHEN YOU DIED,
"I REMEMBER A LOT ABOUT YOU, PAPA.
"I REMEMBER HOW YOU LIKED HORSE RACING,
"AND HOW YOU WOULD COME TO OUR HOUSE
"FOR HOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAYS.
"YOU MADE ME FEEL LOVED.
"I'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW HOW FAR I'VE COME
"SINCE I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD.
"I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY NEW PROGRAM
"AND WHAT I SEE MYSELF BEING AS A CAREER.
"I WANT TO BE A WELL-KNOWN STAGE ACTRESS.
"I KNOW YOU WOULD SUPPORT ME IN THAT, PAPA."
(applause)
>> BEAUTIFUL-- GOOD JOB!
GOOD JOB, VERY NICE.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE ANDY STROUSE.
ANDY'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 14.
>> "QUESTIONS OF HEAVEN" BY ANDY STROUSE.
"I'VE LOST ALL OF MY GRANDPARENTS,
"SOME OF MY CLASSMATES,
"AND MY GOOD FRIEND JOHN Mc INERNEY.
"JOHN DIED WHILE HE WAS RIDING HIS BIKE.
"THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS I HAVE.
"I WOULD ASK HIM ABOUT HEAVEN.
"'IS THERE WEATHER UP THERE?
"'DO YOU SPEND TIME WITH JESUS?
"'DO YOU KNOW THAT I VISIT YOUR GRAVE EVERY YEAR
"'ON MEMORIAL DAY?
"'CAN YOU SEE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAD, LIKE MY GRANDPARENTS?
"'ARE THERE PETS THERE?'
"I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH MY FRIEND JOHN Mc INERNEY."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB-- ALL RIGHT, GOOD JOB, ANDY.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE CRAIG EDELSTEIN
MAKING HIS WAY UP.
CRAIG'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 49.
>> "TV" BY CRAIG EDELSTEIN.
"TV MAKES ME HAPPY.
"I LIKE--"
>> ALL RIGHT.
"TV MAKES ME HAPPY.
"I LIKE SOME TV SHOWS LIKE COSBY,
"FULL HOUSE, AND SUPER FRIENDS.
"I ALSO LIKE TO WATCH NASCAR
"AND MY PERSONAL COLLECTION OF VIDEOS.
"BUT MY FAVORITE IS SUPERMAN WITH CHRISTOPHER REEVE.
"SOMETIMES I THINK TV IS MY LIFE."
(applause)
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE DENISE ZALSMAN.
DENISE'S POEM-- >> (indistinct speaking).
>> (chuckling) DENISE'S POEM IS ON PAGE 45.
>> OH, I GOT IT.
"WINGS OF GLASS" BY DENISE ZALSMAN.
"I SEE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES IN A MEXICO GARDEN,
"FLYING AROUND SO PRETTY
"WITH THEIR DIFFERENT COLORED GLASS WINGS,
"LOOK LIKE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS."
(applause)
>> NICE JOB.
GOOD JOB, ALL RIGHT!
OH, ERIN DEISS IS UP NEXT.
ALL RIGHT, ERIN'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 11.
>> "THE DEAD ZONE" BY ERIN DEISS.
THIS IS ALSO DEDICATED TO MY DAD WHO IS IN HEAVEN.
"THE DEAD ZONE IS WHERE PEOPLE GO TO THE GRAVE
"AND THEN TO HEAVEN.
"A LOT OF GOOD SPIRITS OF THE HEART BECOME PERFECT
"AND THEN RISE FROM THE DEAD ZONE."
(applause) >> BEAUTIFUL.
VERY NICE.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE LEESHAN ALDRIDGE
AND HER POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 32.
COME ON UP, LEESHAN.
>> "JOY" BY LEESHAN ALDRIDGE.
"I HAVE--"
"JOY" BY LEESHAN ALDRIDGE.
"I LOVE TO PRAY.
"I LOVE TO DANCE.
"I LOVE TO SING AND PRAISE.
"I HAVE A JOY IN MY HEART."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT?
OH, ALLEN GREAR.
ALLEN GREAR IS GOING TO READ A POEM THAT YOU CAN FIND
ON PAGE 29.
>> OKAY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. (audience laughing)
"I MISS MY MOM AND DAD.
"THEY WEREN'T HERE TO SEE ME GO TO COLLEGE.
"THEY DIDN'T GET TO SEE ME GET MY NEW KIDNEY.
"I GIVE TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
"LIKE TERI WHO FINALLY FOUND THE GUY OF HER DREAMS.
"FINALLY FOUND--
"AND WILL TREAT HER LIKE THE QUEEN SHE IS.
"AND THANKS TO SADIE AND MICHELLE
"WHO ARE SUCH SWEET PEOPLE AND LOVING.
"THEY LIFT ME UP HIGH.
"WITHOUT THEIR LOVE, THE WALLS WOULD BE CLOSING IN."
BY ALLEN GREAR.
(applause)
>> THERE WAS JUST A FEW MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT.
THANK YOU, ALLEN. (laughing)
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE JON BOL.
JON'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 28.
>> "DANCING" BY JON BOL.
"DANCING MAKES YOU MOVE TO MUSIC.
"KATIE DANCES FOR OTHERS' NEEDS,
"LIKE THE DANCERS WE SAW DANCING FOR CANCER.
"DANCING IS BEAUTIFUL."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB, JON.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE PAIGE MURPHY.
AND PAIGE'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 16.
I DON'T THINK SHE NEEDS THE BOOK EITHER.
I THINK SHE'S GOT IT IN HER--
NO, YOU CAN READ IT BUT YOU'VE GOT YOURS.
>> OKAY, MINE IS "AT THE MALL" BY PAIGE MURPHY.
"TODAY AT THE MALL I CONSUMED A ROOT BEER FLOAT.
"OW-- I BROKE MY NAIL!
(applause) (audience laughing)
>> VERY NICE.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE TANIS ***.
TANIS'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 38 OF YOUR BOOK.
>> "SPORTS FAN" BY TANIS ***.
"I AM A SPORTS FAN.
"I GET EXCITED CHEERING FOR MY FAVORITE TEAM--
"UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. (audience cheering)
"FRIENDS AND FAMILY COMING TOGETHER.
"DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINK.
"WINNING EVERY GAME."
GO BLUE! (applause)
>> VERY NICE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU STAND RIGHT HERE,
AND I'M JUST GOING TO JUST HAVE JOSH GO.
JOSH POWERS IS NEXT, AND JOSH'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 27.
>> "OUTDOOR FAMILY TIME" BY JOSH POWERS.
"I LOVE THE OUTDOORS,
"ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM WITH MY FAMILY AT MY GRANDMA'S COTTAGE
"OR HIKING-- OR HIKING--
"OR HIKING IN COLORADO.
"OUR TIME TOGETHER IN THE SUN IS FUN."
(applause) >> VERY NICE.
ALL RIGHT, TANIS, I'M GOING TO HELP YOU DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, WHO'S UP?
OH, WE HAVE MARK ZASKIEWICZ, OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM.
COME ON UP, MARK.
MARK'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 9.
>> YUP, I'M MARK.
THIS POEM REMINDS ME OF JULIET DRAGOS AND MARY JAMES.
"IN THE CAVE BEHIND THE WATERFALLS,
"THERE ARE--" WHERE AM I?
"IN THE CAVE BEHIND THE WATERFALLS,
"THERE ARE LITTLE ANIMALS CRYING AND SCARED,
"CALLING OVER THE SOUND OF WATER HITTING OTHER WATER.
"I FEEL THEIR LOSS.
"I CAN'T FIND MY WAY THROUGH THE LEAVES.
"SOMETIMES I CRY AND WIPE MY TEARS ON THEM.
"BUT HOW DOES THAT FEEL FOR THE TREE?
"I SEE A SKINNY TREE BRANCH--
"SKINNY BUT STRONG
"BECAUSE I AM ATTACHED TO A BIG TREE.
"IT IS A HARD PINE BRANCH THAT STILL BENDS."
(applause)
AND I'VE GOT ONE MORE.
>> WE'VE GOT TO-- MARK, WE'RE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME.
CAN WE DO IT LATER?
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE DYLAN SKLENICKA.
DYLAN'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 22.
DID YOU BRING IT UP?
AND I'M GOING TO READ A DYLAN'S POEM.
IT'S CALLED "THE GIFT" BY DYLAN SKLENICKA.
"IF I COULD GIVE YOU A GIFT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE.
"I KNOW ONE THING FOR SURE THOUGH,
"IT WOULD BE A GIFT TO YOU FROM ME.
"PERHAPS A GIFT OF LIFE OR A LESSON.
"PERHAPS A GIFT OF FAMILY OR FRIENDS,
"OR AN EMOTIONAL OR PHYSICAL GIFT.
"BUT WHATEVER THE GIFT OR REASON,
"ONE CAN GIVE IN ANY SEASON."
(applause) NICE, I LOVE IT!
BEAUTIFUL.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE ABEL GUILLERMO.
ABEL'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 41.
>> YEAH...
"POVERTY" BY ABEL GUILLERMO.
"THE POVERTY STRICKEN VILLAGE FULL OF CARDBOARD HOUSES.
"THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH.
"YOU SEE IT EVERYWHERE.
"THERE IS A SAD, LIGHT WIND OVER THE GRAY TIN ROOFS
"AND THE BLUE SKY."
(applause) >> GOOD JOB... GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT, JAMES DYKSTRA IS NEXT.
JAMES'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 44.
>> "WAGGING AND JUMPING" BY JAMES DYKSTRA.
"WAGGING HER TAIL AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN,
"SHE WAS GLAD WHEN I CAME HOME.
"BARKING AND JUMPING AND LOOKING AT PEOPLE.
"SHE WAS MY PET DOG."
(applause)
>> VERY NICE.
THANK YOU, JAMES.
DAVID WOLVEN IS NEXT.
DAVID'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 49.
>> "NEKO" BY DAVID WOLVEN.
"I ONCE HAD A DOG NAMED NEKO.
"HE WAS A NICE DOG TO HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE.
"HE ALWAYS KNEW HOW I FELT WHEN I WAS SICK,
"AND HE LIKED TO GO FOR WALKS WITH ME.
"NEKO WAS A VERY GOOD DOG TO ME."
(applause)
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, EMILY SHANAHAN IS NEXT,
AND EMILY'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 43.
>> OKAY.
MY NAME IS EMILY SHANAHAN, "MERELY A DREAM."
"MY SISTER AND I PLANTED A GARDEN
"IN OUR GRANDMA'S BACKYARD.
"BUT THEN WE REALIZED IT WAS MERELY A DREAM.
"SOMETIMES I WONDER WHY THINGS SEEM SAD.
"BUT THEN MY SISTER TELLS ME THINGS WILL GET BETTER,
"AND THEY DO."
(applause)
>> NICE, THANK YOU, EMILY.
BEAUTIFUL.
FRED BEHM IS NEXT, AND FRED'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 29.
>> "BRIGHT AND SUNNY MORNING" BY FRED BEHM.
"ON A BRIGHT AND SUNNY MORNING, THE SUN RISES AND I SIT...
"I SEE KATY'S BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL COLORS
"LIKE DIFFERENT LEAVES OF GREEN AND BROWN.
"WET LEAVES ARE DRYING, WAKING UP FROM THE NIGHT."
(applause)
>> GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE KATIE CROUCH.
KATIE?
KATIE'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 19.
>> A SHORT REMARK-- THANK YOU, DAWN.
I GOT MY NEW SHOES-- I'M READY FOR THE WALK.
ONE THING, I NEED TO HAVE MY GLASSES.
"HARP DREAMS" BY KATIE.
"CRESCENT MOON-- IT GLOWS LIKE A NIGHT LIGHT IN THE OPEN SKY.
"BIRDS SOUND LIKE A FLUTE FROM THE DISTANCE TO CARRY A TUNE.
"SEAGULLS FLY BELOW THE SEA.
"WAVES ARE PEACEFUL.
"CLOUDS BREAK AWAY.
"I SIT ON THE WHITE SAND
"WATCHING THE SUNSET DIM IN THE EVENING."
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE ELIZABETH WHITE,
AND ELIZABETH'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 43.
>> "THE WAY I COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE" BY ELIZABETH WHITE.
"THE WAY I COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS.
"WHEN I GET UPSET, I GO INTO MY SHELL.
"MOST PEOPLE WILL TALK THINGS OUT.
"WITH ME, I NEED SOME TIME TO COMMUNICATE AFTER BEING UPSET."
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE LISA KIMBALL.
AND LISA'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 46.
>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
ABOUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
I LOST (indistinct) MY BROTHER AND MY DAD
AND I WANT TO DEDICATE THIS POEM FOR THEM.
"MY GRIEF" BY LISA KIMBALL.
"I STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THE LOSS OF MY FATHER
"AND MY BROTHER.
(crying) "IT SOMETIMES FEELS
LIKE AN ELEPHANT STOMPING ON MY HEAD.
"TOO MUCH EMOTION.
"BRETT AND DAD, SO MUCH ALIKE.
"THEY BOTH LOVED CAMPING AND COMMUNING WITH NATURE,
"CLOWNING AROUND ON CHRISTMAS,
"BOTH WEARING BOXERS OVER THEIR JEANS!
"THE MEMORY MAKES ME SMILE.
(crying) "I MISS THEM A LOT."
(applause)
>> IT'S SO HARD TO DO, I KNOW.
YOU DID GREAT. (applause)
LEETRICE SOUZA.
LEETRICE'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 28.
>> THIS IS DEDICATED TO MY FRIEND, DAVID,
WHO PROVIDES THE HOPE NETWORK (indistinct)
BUT HIS MOM'S NOT HERE, I DON'T THINK.
"MY FRIEND DAVY" BY LEETRICE SOUZA.
"I HELP DAVY ON THE BUS.
"HE IS SILENT.
"HE DOESN'T SPEAK.
"I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE ARE MEAN TO HIM.
"IT MAKES ME SAD HE CAN'T SAY HOW HE FEELS.
"I DON'T MIND THAT HE DOESN'T SPEAK,
"BECAUSE HE'S SPECIAL TO ME.
"HE'S MY FRIEND."
(applause)
>> NICE.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE BETTY MALMYGA NEXT,
AND SHE IS READING A POEM FOUND ON PAGE 37.
>> "BABY SHOWER" BY BETTY MALMYGA.
"I'M EXCITED!
"MY NIECE IS HAVING A BABY GIRL
"AND I AM GOING TO BE A GREAT AUNT!
"WE ARE GIVING HER A BABY SHOWER, GOOD FOOD, GAMES,
"MUSIC, DOOR PRIZES, AND, OF COURSE, GIFTS.
"IT WILL BE FUN!"
(applause) >> VERY NICE.
THANK YOU, BETTY.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE SUE UDELL.
SUE UDELL'S POEM IS ON PAGE 34.
>> MY NAME-- "UP NORTH" BY SUE UDELL.
"I USED TO GO UP NORTH WITH MY GRANDPARENTS.
"MY GRANDMA WAS THE BEST
"BECAUSE SHE MADE THE BEST CINNAMON ROLLS.
"A SPECIAL MEMORY OF VISITING COUSINS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA
"MAKES ME HAPPY, TOO.
"I LOVE AND MISS MY FAMILY, TOO."
(applause) >> GOOD JOB, SUE.
GOOD JOB-- LET'S SEE.
ISHMAEL, ARE YOU COMING UP?
LET'S GET ISHMAEL, AND GABE, FOLLOW HIM UP HERE, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT, ISHMAEL NEGRON IS NEXT,
AND HIS POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 44.
>> "LAST FAREWELL" BY ISHMAEL NEGRON.
"OUR FINAL MOMENTS SPENT TOGETHER WERE WITH MY GRANDPA
"IN A HOSPITAL BED.
"HE TURNED HIS HEAD AND ASKED ME TO COME CLOSER.
"HE SAID HE LOVED ME.
"IN HIS LAST BREATH, I DID NOT SEE HIM IN THE HOSPITAL BED
"BUT IN A PEACEFUL PLACE, FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM.
"IT WAS OUR LAST FAREWELL."
(applause)
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE GABE McDONALD NEXT,
AND GABE'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 16.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
"HEAVEN" BY GABE McDONALD.
"GRAM IS IN HEAVEN.
"IN BLUE SKY.
"I DREAM OF TALKING WITH HER, CORA AND RUBY TOO.
"I'M HAPPY THEY'RE IN HEAVEN.
"GRAM DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ANYMORE."
(applause) >> NICE, GOOD JOB, GABE.
NICE-- ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE YVONNE JOHNSON.
YVONNE'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 19.
>> YES.
"SOUNDS FROM THE SKY" BY YVONNE JOHNSON.
"THE WHITE CLOUDS IN THE BLUE SKY ARE MAGIC,
"LIKE WHITE PHONES SENDING SOUNDS.
"I HEAR MUSIC ON THE RADIO STATION AND THE TRAINS OUTSIDE.
"I CAN HEAR THE PAGE OF MY MAGAZINE TURN
"AND THE VOICES OF PEOPLE SHOPPING."
(applause) >> VERY NICE.
THANK YOU, YVONNE.
ALL RIGHT, WHICH ONE OF YOU IS NEXT OVER THERE?
ANGIE PHILLIPS IS NEXT.
OKAY, ANGIE'S POEM IS FOUND ON PAGE 26.
>> GREETINGS.
MY POEM TODAY IS CALLED "MY FAMILY."
"A FAMILY TO ME IS A BODY OF PEOPLE WHO RESPECT, LAUGH,
"AND HELP EACH OTHER, AND LAUGH SOME MORE.
"I AM BLESSED TO HAVE MY FAMILY,
"AND I AM PROUD OF THEM.
"WHO WOULDN'T BE, WITH A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER,
"AS GABE,
"OR A SISTER WHO SINGS IN A RENOWNED CHURCH CHOIR?
"AS JENNI.
"FOR ANY UPDATE ON THE TIGER'S SCORE,
"OR LIKE WE LEARNED TONIGHT, ANY TV REPORTS--
"GOOD OLD DENISE-- MY SISTER, DENISE.
"I CAN CALL ON ANOTHER FOR ANY BOWLING ADVICE...
"THANKS TO MR. GOOD OLD CRAIG.
"WE HAVE FUN HELPING EACH OTHER OUT,
"AND WE ALWAYS REMEMBER TO COME BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
"THIS IS MY NOORTHOEK FAMILY."
(applause)
JENNI, CAN YOU COME UP AND HELP ME A SECOND?
I BREAK THE RULES. (audience laughing)
AND I'M ALMOST THE YOUNGEST PROBABLY IN THIS GROUP.
MAYBE NOT, BUT OH WELL.
CAN I HAVE MR. JOHN PLEASE COME UP FROM THE BOARD PLEASE?
ALL RIGHT, CAN I HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE NOORTHOEK BOARD?
ANYWAYS, MISS KATE AND MISS SANDY--
>> COME UP, KATE. >> KATE?
I'M SORRY, I'M THE SPOKESPERSON EVERY YEAR FOR NOORTHOEK,
FOR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT-- US COOL KIDS.
WE'RE ALWAYS COOL. (audience cheering)
AND THESE TWO HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD.
DID THE PARENTS KNOW-- MAYBE US STUDENTS FORGOT,
BUT MISS PROFESSOR SANDY
HAS BEEN HERE FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR YEARS,
AND BLESS MISS KATE'S HEART.
SHE'S WORKED SO VERY HARD AND SHE HASN'T RUN YET,
AND SHE'S JUST COMPLETING HER FIRST YEAR.
(audience laughing)
(applause) THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(applause)
>> IF YOU DON'T NEED ME ANYMORE...
(audience laughing)
WHY DON'T YOU SAY WHAT PAGE YOUR POEM IS ON?
>> MY PAGE IS ON 14.
"MY MOM CAME BACK."
"MY MOM CAME BACK ONE DAY.
"SHE AND I WENT TO A PARK.
"WE TALKED ABOUT FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS,
"AND SCHOOL, DAY PROGRAMMING, CHOIR,
"AND WHERE I LIVED.
"SHE SAID SHE WAS VERY, VERY HAPPY ABOUT MY LIFE NOW."
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU.
IT'S GREAT WHEN I LOSE CONTROL OVER THE FESTIVITIES.
(audience laughing) THANK YOU, THOUGH.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE ARE DONE WITH POETRY, RIGHT?
IS THERE ANYBODY NOT SITTING IN THE FIRST COUPLE ROWS
THAT NEEDS TO READ?
OKAY.
WELL, THAT ALMOST CONCLUDES OUR EVENING TONIGHT.
I DO-- I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING.
A QUICK COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS--
ONE IS THAT ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, JEFF FRANK,
IS OFFERING FREE TICKETS TO THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL SHOWING
OF A MOVIE CALLED "SPECIAL INTERVIEW,"
AND THAT MOVIE IS AT 4:30 ON SUNDAY, MAY 5th,
AT CELEBRATION NORTH.
THE FILM MIGHT BE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO STUDENTS
AND CAREGIVERS.
IT IS ABOUT A DEVELOPMENTALLY CHALLENGED YOUNG MAN AND WOMAN
WHO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS WITH WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE.
THIS GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNICATION SUBJECT
THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
THEY HOLD ONTO THEIR DREAM OF ONE DAY
INTERVIEWING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TICKET,
JEFF IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AT A TABLE
IN THE OUTER LOBBY DURING THE RECEPTION.
THERE ARE REFRESHMENTS OUT IN THE ENTRYWAY.
YOU CAN GET A PARKING VOUCHER OUT THERE FOR A DONATION,
AND OH, I REMEMBER-- IF WE CAN, I HAD A REQUEST
THAT IF WE COULD GATHER STUDENTS UP HERE FOR A PHOTO,
SO, UM... THANK YOU FOR COMING,
BUT IF STUDENTS COULD JUST COME UP HERE
SO WE CAN TAKE A QUICK PICTURE,
AND WE'LL SEE THE REST OF YOU OUT IN THE ENTRYWAY.
THANK YOU. (applause)