“Bloom where you’re planted,” was a common theme in the speeches of a mother-daughter duo at the Cleveland graduation ceremony, which was held in the new gym last Friday.
While Olivia Shouler, one of two class valedictorians—the other was Makenna Mueller—gave the honors address, her mother Jess Shouler was the ceremony’s guest speaker.
“My mom is a garden geek,” said Olivia Shouler. “She shared with me something that she remembered from her mother, a quote that read, ‘Bloom where you’re planted.’ This quote resonates with me. The life lesson is to do your best wherever you go, find your roots, find your happiness in the simple things, work hard to make thigs successful for yourself, remember where you came from, enjoy the journey, and don’t let less-than-ideal circumstances get you down.”
For Shouler, blooming where she was planted has meant being successful academically.
“I always wanted to be top of my class. I wanted to do well academically because I know that athletic ability was not going to be my forte. But I made the most of my time spent playing sports with my friends, played as hard as I could and then put in extra effort into classroom studies. I have also found a love for music and singing as well, another bloom that popped up throughout my journey.”
But she realized that being successful in school didn’t prove her worth.
“We can work our hardest and our results may not be what we had hoped for. So, I have come to a conclusion: we are always growing. Tonight is not the end result but a short stop in our journey and the beginning of a brand-new chapter."
Allowing for both grace and falling, it is important to be patient, she told her classmates.
“Just like a flower, the bloom does not happen easily or overnight. Give it time and trust. Give other time and unconditional grace and treat them with the same care we would want for ourselves. This is how we grow, and that is how we become an important part of a community.”
Besides her role as a mother, Jess Shouler is a mental health therapist. She has also been an active volunteer with school activities. She offered the class of 2024 a “graduation tool kit” to take forward, which consisted of 10 items, all symbols of advice to the 44 graduates.
One of the 10, a handful of seeds, was to remind them to bloom where they are planted and learn how to grow their own gardens, both figuratively and literally, so they can be self-reliant.
The other nine items were a ticket to remind them to “show up,” to participate; a rubber band to remind them to stay flexible, open minded and to bounce back after a fall; a sweat band to signify the value of hard work; a mirror for self-awareness, to be genuine, honest and careful about judging others; a life saver to remind them to put the needs of others first and serve their community as a volunteer; a pair of glasses to remind them to keep on open perspective to others who think differently; Post-it notes to use as reminders to those they love why they appreciate them; a compass to remind them to follow their own hearts and morals and values and have the integrity of doing what is right and just, even when difficult; and rock to remind them to be a foundation for someone else, someone they can count on.
“So, with this gift bag of items, I wish all of our graduates the very best of luck moving forward, the strength to be flexible, the courage to bounce and the integrity to show up.”
Also during the ceremony, class president Madysen Seely gave the welcome address.
“To our parents and families, thank you for your endless love and sacrifices,” she said. “Your belief in us has been the fuel that kept us going. To our teachers and faculty, your dedication and passion for education have inspired us to strive for excellence and to never give up.”
Greta Hahn and Nathan Strobel presented the class memories.
Principal Scott Lusk presented the graduates. Scott Miller, School Board chairperson, awarded the diplomas with board members Andy Jindra, Nancy Heldberg and Kevin McCabe stepping in for students they had a special connection with. With the diplomas, $118,850 in scholarships was awarded.
The Cleveland Graduation Ensemble, a band made up of students in grades 8-11 and directed by Erik Hermanson, performed the prelude music and the traditional “Fanfare and Processional/Recessional.”
Greta Hahn adjusts the tassel of Mariah McCabe.
Madison Peterson looks at the audience before the graduates enter the gym.
The Cleveland Graduation Ensemble with Erik Hermanson directing.
Junior attendants Ariel Murphy and Jackson Bowen led the procession.
Class president Madysen Seely gave the welcome address.
Olivia Shouler presented the honors address.
Greta Hahn and Nathan Strobel presented the class history.
The parent recognition part of the ceremony, when seniors present their parents with a flower, made for an emotional meeting between Ian Vlasak and his grandfather, Terry Stoering.
Olivia Shouler had her motto blazoned onto her mortarboard.
In her address, Jess Shouler listed 10 items, each representing advice to the graduates.
Dylan Zimmerman won the Androli Award. Presenting it in his last graduation as superintendent is Brian Phillips.
Olivia Shouler earned the Athena Award.
Matthew Holmquist, Laci Hollerich and Brianna Hollerich.
Nathan Strobel, Gabe Sullivan and Erick Torres slide their tassels to the left side, a high school tradition after the degree is confirmed.
The traditional mortarboard toss took place in the commons due to rain outside.
Jamillet Aguiniga-Chacón: Scholarships – Cleveland CEA ($200), Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($150); plans – college for Early Childhood Education
Chloe Anderson: Scholarship – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($500); plans – cosmetology school
Carter Barto; plans – MSU,M for Law Enforcement
Aaliyah Bauer
Brady Bostic
Miah Buesing; plans – working
Cassandra Connor: Honor graduate and NHS member; Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($500), Ed Schultz ($1250), Jack Zimmerman Leadership ($250), Starkweather Family ($250); plans – SDSU
Lilly Croatt; plans – obtaining a personal trainer license
Dennis Dent; plans – working in construction
Ellie Dylla: Honor graduate; Scholarships – American Legion Post 207 ($1000), Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($500), Cleveland Fire Department ($500) ; plans – U of Mn, Twin Cities for Wildlife Biology
Jewel Factor: Honor graduate; Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($500), Ed Schultz ($1250), German/Jefferson Sportsman Club ($500) ; plans – NDSU for Animal Science
Adalyn Gibeau: Honor graduate and NHS member; Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($500), Cleveland Fire Department ($500), HomeTown Bank ($250), Yellow & Blue Scholarship ($1000) ; plans – SDSU for Pre Law
Preston Goettlicher; plans – working
Emily Griffiths: Scholarship – American Legion Auxiliary ($250)
Amelia Haack: Honor graduate; Scholarships – Anders Early Learning ($500), Buster & Nina West Family ($300), Cleveland Fire Department ($500); plans – college to be a preschool teacher
Greta Hahn: Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($300), Sons of the American Legion ($250); plans – Bethany Lutheran College
Brianna Hollerich: Scholarship – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($250); plans – college for Biology
Larissa Hollerich: Honor graduate; Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($250), Redman Club ($250), Terry Matejcek Memorial ($1000), UND Academic Scholarship ($11,000); plans – UND for Nursing
Matthew Holmquist; plans – MSU,M for writing
Hudson Keup; plans – working
Lauren Krohn: Scholarship – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($300); plans – SCC for Nursing
Lilly Lamont: Scholarships – Class of 1954 ($250), Cleveland Booster Club ($500), Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($150), Ed Schultz (2-year school) ($500), Firefighters Association of Southern Minnesota ($1000), Monica Holicky Memorial ($500), Sons of the American Legion/Clayton Block ($500); plans – Nova Academy of Cosmetology
Maja Løken (foreign exchange student)
Cameron Leighter; plans – SCC for welding
Sabrina Machado; plans – anywhere with nature
Nicholas Maul; plans – working
Mariah McCabe: Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($250), Cleveland Fire Department ($250), Ed Schultz Golden Choices ($1250), Miss Irish Rose Scholarship ($1,000), Sons of the American Legion ($250); plans – Rasmussen College for Nursing
Derek Miller: Honor graduate; plans – carpentry
Makenna Mueller: Honor graduate; Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($650), Ed Schultz ($1,250), Monica Holicky Memorial ($500), Wildcat Non-Resident Award ($67,500); plans – Kansas State University
Abigail Osness: Honor graduate and NHS member; Scholarships – Bruce Fasnacht Memorial ($250), Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($650), Ed Schultz (2-year school) ($500), Le Sueur County Pioneer Power ($500), Ms. Elysian Attendant Scholarship ($750), Sons of the American Legion/Clayton Block ($500), South Central College Signing Day ($500); plans – SCC for AA degree in agriculture and diesel service
Madison Peterson: Scholarship – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($750); plans – Riverland College for Radiology
Jackson Rysdam: Scholarship – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($250); plans – SCC for welding and machinery
Madysen Seely: Honor graduate and NHS member; Scholarships – American Legion Post 207 Auxiliary ($1000), Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($500), Everly Hewitt Memorial ($500); plans – USD for Dental Hygiene and minor in Deaf Education
Adam Seeman; plans – SCC for electrician
Jace Selly; plans – working as a heavy equipment operator
Olivia Shouler: Honor graduate and NHS member; Scholarships – Cleveland Booster Club ($500), Concrete Cutter ($500), Ed Schultz ($1250), John Gregory O’Connell ($1000), Pro-Life Scholarship ($2000), Sons of the American Legion ($250), Yellow & Blue Scholarship ($2000); plans – SDSU for advertising
Samantha Steiner; plans – working
Nathan Strobel; plans – Augustana (SD) for Economics
Gabriel Sullivan: Scholarship – Sons of the American Legion ($250); plans – apprentice elevator mechanic program
Corbin Thompson; plans – working before college
Erick Torres; plans – working in the concrete industry
Ian Vlasak; plans – working
Dylan Zimmerman: Honor graduate and NHS member; Scholarships – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($250), Cleveland Fire Department ($500), Jack Zimmerman Leadership ($250), Redman Club ($250), Richard Pope Family ($250); plans – GAC
Jorden Zishka-Rossow: Scholarship – Cleveland Dollars for Scholars ($250); plans – Aviation and Forestry
