Perrysburg graduates urged to stand up to injustice

Brinkley
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Perrysburg High School marked its 150th graduation ceremony Sunday with remarks from an esteemed historian and a class president who had to improvise when part of her speech turned up missing.

Author Douglas Brinkley, Perrysburg class of 1978, author of 21 books and a professor of history at Rice University, drew on his experiences as a biographer to give graduates a hint of the private lives of historical figures.

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Among them were astronaut Neil Armstrong of Wapakoneta, who gave a rare interview to Mr. Brinkley because Mr. Brinkley was also from northwest Ohio.

He said he got to know Rosa Parks, who kick-started the modern civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in 1955. His book Rosa Parks was published in 2000.

“She kept her dignity,” Mr. Brinkley told the audience at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo, where the event was held to accommodate the 335 graduates and their families.

“You can make a difference just by standing up and fighting intolerance and injustice wherever you find it,” Mr. Brinkley said.

His most recent book was Cronkite, published in 2012 to wide acclaim. He also wrote The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast (2006), and Gerald R. Ford (2007).

Allexandra Brown, class president, embraces principal Michael Short after Miss Brown received her diploma during Perrysburg High School’s 150th commencement.
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He spoke of his high school class as an “underground network of friends” that he tries to stay in touch with.

“I consider my friends like family,” Mr. Brinkley said.

Class friends as family also was the theme of the speech by class president Allexandra Brown, who found that her printed speech waiting for her at the podium was missing the last few pages.

After a few moments unsure of what to do, Miss Brown responded to a challenge from the audience to “speak from your heart,” and went on to give a speech without notes.

“I’m deeply saddened to leave. I don’t want to leave,” Miss Brown said. “We’re one big happy family. I’m so proud of everyone sitting here.”

The same snafu nearly occurred to the salutatorian, Henry Yang, whose speech followed hers. Henry walked offstage briefly and returned with his printed remarks. Valedictorian Adam Chen brought his speech with him.

Among those graduating was Lauren Bland, who was at Perrysburg only one semester, having moved there from Detroit when her mother, Karen Bland, was relocated for her job.

“My daughter wanted to come with her mom,” said her father, Larry Bland. “I said this is your senior year. She said, “I know Dad. I can adjust. I want to come to Perrysburg.’”

Graduate Peyten Young said the move out of high school is bittersweet.

Henry Yang, center, class salutatorian, plays the violin during Perrysburg High School’s 150th commencement ceremony Sunday at the Stranahan Theater.
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“I don’t want to leave friends behind. But so many bigger and better things are to come,” she said. A high point of the year was Perrysburg’s football victory over Massillon Washington in the quest for a state title, she said.

She’s heading to Miami University of Ohio to major in biomedical engineering.

The Yellow Jackets girls’ soccer goalkeeper also recalled the fish-swallowing caper as one of the high points of her senior year. Although the tradition is frowned on, students swallow goldfish whole at halftime of the Maumee boys basketball game.

Eager to graduate and get on with his life was Jacob Cope, who marked his graduation by playing the oboe in the band for the entertainment of the commencement audience.

Young Cope, who plans to study film and music at Bowling Green State University, recalled a video made in his junior year as a key event. It featured someone delivering a letter to Principal Michael Short. Young Cope took a class called “tech writing” that relates to writing for videos.

“I feel good,” Mr. Cope said. Asked if he was looking forward to what comes next he said, “for sure.”

Mr. Short said he’s in a lot of student videos.

“The kids come up with these ideas for high school videos and they want me to be involved. I think that’s a great connector,” he said. His son, Benjamin Short, was among the graduates Sunday.

Mr. Short noted that in contrast to Sunday’s class of 335, the school’s first class in 1866 consisted of three girls.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.