Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 133 No. 4 Summer 2012 | Page 8

Class of 2012
Graduation Opening Address
Given by Brady Bostwick
Hello everyone, thank you for being part of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Class of 2012 graduation. I would like to thank our honored guests: Stephanie
Petska, Carolyn Stanford-Taylor, Alex Slappey, Marla Walsh, Connie Gartner,
and our class speaker Luanne Barron from Kansas School for the Deaf. I also
want to thank my family as well as my fellow graduating classmates’ families
for coming to witness us unfold the next chapters, of Our Stories.

When I joined WSD a little more than three years ago, our amazing
journey together began as WSD’s future graduates. Young and talented
would be the words I’d use to describe this group of students, whom I
call my friends, as we grew together for the next few years. As the days
went on, page after page being filled with our adventures & experiences
together, it’s now finally our senior year, and our turn to walk upon this
stage. I come to realize that these have been the best four years of our
lives to this point.
Even though our high school days have come to an end, our stories will continue to be written. Some of us
will be working right away; others will be going off to college. No matter what our decisions may be, we
will always have a connection; we are the class of 2012. We will continue to grow as we journey on from
here. We will always remember the WSD people that impacted our lives, from teachers, to dorm Child Care
Counselors, the cafeteria staff and powerhouse workers, the entire WSD staff.
WSD has been my home away from home for three years;
it was really worth the 3-4 weeks of my summer trying to
convince my mom to let me attend a dorm school. All these
opportunities I have been given; playing basketball, meeting
other deaf people in other states, getting a quality education
through the Wisc Dept of Public Instruction, and being here
today giving the Opening Graduation Speech! There has just
been so much to be thankful for. Thank you WSD, friends,
teachers, and family, for making these high school years so
wonderful! Welcome to our graduation!
Summer 2012 - 8