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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Speech by Derek Johnson

Good evening my name is Derek Johnson.

Short, challenging and fulfilling. Words that best summarize my time at City Academy. I started my journey at City Academy in 4th grade. I was a lost soul at first, but in a short time I have grown into the school community and was able to make friends and work diligently to meet academic expectations. At my prior school, I only learned the fundamentals, but in just my short time at City Academy, I have been immersed in an environment that challenged rather than reinforced, causing me to apply myself more and strive to be greater. I AM PROUD OF MY JOURNEY!!!!!

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Poem by Zariyah Nance

Zariyah's graduation photo

Destination

Good evening, my name is Zariyah Nance. Words are helpful in our lives. It helps us to say things, but it also helps us to express what we as human beings feel. Words can make others’ voices be heard, loud enough for the people around us to hear and maybe even the world. Before I officially leave what was once my destination, I will be reciting a poem entitled “Destination” that will allow me to express who I have become as a student of City Academy.

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Speech by Alyssa Harris

Alyssa graduation photo

Good evening everyone, my name is Alyssa Harris, and I am proud to be a part of the graduating class of 2019. In my life, I have realized that there are always chains that will try and hold you back, and mountains that you will have to overcome. There are some challenges that come with growing up, like learning how to be responsible, or finding out what it really means to have integrity.

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Speech by Nashon Anthony

Time Flies

Good evening, my name is Nashon Anthony. I am certain each of you at some point in your life have used the phrase “time flies”. This evening I will be sharing how my time has certainly flown by at City Academy. My time at City Academy has been nothing less than priceless. With every second, every minute, and every hour, I have learned to take advantage of the opportunities given to me and learned to use those times and opportunities gracefully in order to make every moment count.

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Speech by Madison Moore

I Can

Good evening! My name is Madison Moore and I’ve been attending City
Academy since kindergarten. And, if I’m being honest, kindergarten and first grade was a blur, but what I do remember is this one time in EC, my class wrote down the phrase, “I Can’t” on paper, and we took it outside to the old garden beds and buried it. Whenever I thought I couldn’t do something those first few years, I just remembered how I buried those words in the dirt and how “I Can’t” was dead.

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Speech by Ayomide Ajakaiye

Good evening, my name is Ayomide Ajakaiye. At the beginning of the year, I came up with a motto for myself; to enjoy the moment. To take advantage of every drop of life. So to everyone who has ever said or done something that has left a positive impact on me, thank you. Because of you, I can enjoy my moment.

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Speech by Lauryn Gross

Good evening, My name is Lauryn Gross, and today I stand before you with mixed emotions. It seems as if just last month, I was having a wrestling match with my parents in the parking lot of City Academy, pleading not to have to walk into the double doors and face once again that stamp on the floor as I walked into the foyer area. But today, I also stand before you proud and with much gratitude. “What I have, What I’ve learned” is what I call my sentimental speech that shares my experience through my years here at City Academy, and the perseverance I’ve acquired, will be the same perseverance I will take with me to Villa Duchesne in the Fall.

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Martin Mathews Awards

Martin Mathews Award Recipients | Ayomide Ajakaiye and Isaac Taylor

Mr. Martin Mathews, the founder of Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club and a wonderful friend of City Academy, has spent his life serving others. Mr. Mathews always espouses his three R’s: respect, restraint, and responsibility. His philosophy of high expectations inspired the vision for City Academy, and he has been behind us every step of the way.

Every year at graduation, City Academy honors Mr. Mathews by recognizing one or more students in the graduating class who reflect his values and who have demonstrated exceptional citizenship and academic integrity. This year, two students received the Martin Mathews Award.

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Graduation Ceremony 2019 | Oliver Langenberg Award

The David Steward Family

Graduation is also a time to reflect on the importance of philanthropy: Making an active effort to promote the welfare of others. We are all here today because of the generosity and support of those in our community who believe in our school and in you, our students.

At our first graduation in 2005, we established the Oliver Langenberg Award to annually honor a St. Louisan whose contributions have made City Academy and our broader community better. Oliver Langenberg was City Academy’s first donor in 1998, a year before we opened! He invested in a school with no students or teachers. Think about that. Mr. Langenberg believed in our vision for a school of excellence for all families. He had faith that we would get it done. We did! And I will always be grateful.

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