OASIS Commencement: “It’s a Glorious Thing”

OASIS High School graduates six students after receiving their diplomas and certificates today. From left: Esther Doss, Morgan Miller, Sorrel Hughes, Ursula Pamatian, Herbie Sisson and Micah Jones

Orcas Island School District  (OISD) Superintendent and High School Principal Barbara Kline welcomed the guests overflowing Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall earlier today at the Orcas Alternative Student-Initiated Studies (OASIS) High School Commencement Ceremony.

The students earning their High School diplomas or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) certificates:

• Morgan Miller, Valedictorian, diploma
• Micah Jones, diploma
• Herbie Sisson, diploma
• Esther Doss, GRE certificate
• Sorrel Hughes, GRE certificate
• Ursula Pamatian, GRE certificate

Klein commended the students for what they have accomplished,”exerting control over what they learn, when they learn and how long it takes them — it’s a glorious thing.”

The students each gave brief speeches, thanking their families and friends and in particular their teacher and OASIS staff: Jill Sherman, Corey Wiscomb, Marta Branch, Natasha Meskew, Sera Benson, Brett McFarland, Vala Ross, Laurie Mayhew and Patricia Goffney.

Teacher Kathy Anderson gave the Commencement Speech, emphasizing that whatever our differences, we all seek happiness, each in our own way. Ms. Anderson cautioned about the “buzzkillers” that keep us from happiness, chiefly “collective ADHD” resulting from following every thread and losing the sense of the whole fabric.  She also spoke of the cynicism that finds the flaw in every situation and focuses on that. “We are all flawed and that’s not a bad thing,” Anderson said, and gave the examples of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence and Martin Luther King, Jr., who transformed society.

After advising them to embrace inevitable changes, she expressed the hope that the students will find a way to sustain themselves through the good and bad times.

Cameron Schuh and Tamara Klein are in the same class as the students honored at the Commencement ceremony, and their studies will be completed at a future date.

OISD Board members Tony Ghazel and Jim Sullivan attended the ceremony, and with teacher Jill Sherman, gave out the awards.

Morgan Miller, who, Ms. Klein noted, is the first off-island student to graduate after attending OASIS High School for four years, will go to WSU where she plans to start pre-med courses.

Esther Doss will continue her art studies at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

Ursula Pamatian’s future includes travel to Thailand. Sorel Hughes and Micah Jones, whose senior project was geocaching  also plan to travel soon.

Herbie Sisson, whose senior project explained wind turbines, plans to attend Seattle Central Community College.