Saturday, May. 16, 2009

Son’s success is sweet sorrow

Tomorrow is graduation day for 1,818 graduates of Olathe’s four public high schools.

Whether they fly with Eagles, Falcons, Hawks or Ravens, the 2009 classes of North, South, East and Northwest are worthy of the community’s commendation, congratulations and respect.

In this day and age, it’s easy to overlook high school graduation. In some communities, a high school diploma is not a foregone conclusion. For some, it is the pinnacle of their academic careers. In Olathe, this moment of pomp and circumstance is just the beginning.

Traditionally, graduation has been a springboard for Olathe students. Historically, more than 90 percent of Olathe’s high school graduates have gone on to either a two-year or four-year college or university.

That was true in our household, where Kyle (2000 Class of East), and Kevin (2004 Class of South) each attended Johnson County Community College before graduating from Big 12 universities. Kyle walked down the hill in Lawrence as a member of the Class of 2006. Kevin graduated last Saturday with a bachelor’s degree in business from Oklahoma State University.

For those of you who routinely chant “Rock Chalk” or “Every man a Wildcat” please permit me a little Orange indulgence and a moment of fatherly pride.

Dr. Sara M. Freedman, dean of the Spears School of Business at OSU, made special mention of Kevin during graduation, speaking for a few minutes about a special young man who overcame disability — spina bifida — and illnesses to achieve many of his life goals.

Sadly, seeing the presentation of his college diploma was not one of them. Kevin, lacking just two semesters of finishing his degree, passed away in November of cancer.

He withdrew from fall classes while undergoing chemotherapy. It was a semester he had been eager to start. He “was on a roll” after making Dean’s Honor Roll in the previous semester, completing finals a week after his cancer diagnosis.

OSU granted his degree posthumously, noting that he had played wheelchair basketball for the Cowboys, had overcome illness and disability to become an Eagle Scout and had been active as a volunteer and in his church youth groups.

Much like his memorial service in November, it was a reading of a life of joy, happiness and achievement. But certainly a life that ended abruptly and way too soon. Kevin and his life will be remembered by those he touched for his smile, his perseverance, his faith and now, lastly, as a college graduate. Congratulations, Kevin. We all love you.

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