CHS graduates 45

Nienstedt: Future will be more

complicated

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm Cathedral seniors were reminded, among other things, to take life seriously but not to take themselves too seriously during their commencement Sunday afternoon.

Those words, delivered by teacher Byron Ubl, were among the many pieces of advice and gratitude spoken by fellow students, faculty and clergy at the Church of St. Mary.

Forty-five Cathedral students received their diplomas as the Class of 2004. Many will be headed off to college at places around Minnesota. Others will join the military or enter the work force.

The commencement ceremony and Mass marked the end of 13 years of school for the classmates.

Ubl encouraged the class to find things that are important to them and make them their own, to thank their parents and not to forget where their home is because "many of life's answers are found there."

Bishop John Nienstedt said he is "deeply appreciative" of the contributions that Cathedral alumni have made over the years.

He was also impressed with the class motto, which is "The past is my heritage, the present is my responsibility and the future, my challenge."

He noted that the students belong to a generation that survived the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, and still remember the fall of the Berlin Wall. The graduates have known victory and defeat in the field of athletics and also know "the challenges of the outside world" even though they live in a small town. He said the future will certainly be more complex than present, but reminded the class to "always remember God is with you in your hearts."

Nienstedt and Cathedral principal Shelly Bauer named Jennifer Moldan the salutatorian and named Julie Seifert valedictorian for having the second-highest and the highest grade-point averages respectively. Andrea Soehren was given the Lumen Christi Award "for portraying the 12 NUACS standards," Bauer said.

One by one, each graduate received a diploma.

Student Tim Guldan gave one final reflection. The class grew up with many fads, from Creepy Crawlers to pogs to Beanie Babies to hackey sacks to driver licenses, even though some things have never changed.

"Believe it or not, we are entering the first stage of the real world," he said.