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through my journey. I’d like to especially highlight Mr Adoff, who opened my eyes to the world of creative writing through Power of the Pen, and whose rap skills I will never forget (no matter how hard I try). I’d also like to thank Lorrie Sparrow- Knapp, who allowed me to throw my first rager in eighth grade through being the host of a ’50s Mardi Gras party in “Culture Club.” Don’t worry, Lorrie — I’m sure it won’t be my last. Thank you for guiding me through my acting journey for the last five years. My mom likes to say that I was on the stage before I was born because she per- formed on the stage at Antioch while she was pregnant with me. She also dressed me up as a playboy bunny for my first Hal- loween. I owe her a lot of my gratitude. She’s pushed me to do hard things that have made me a better person. I know moms always like to think that they’re always right, but it is unfortunately true when it comes to mine. And she never has to say I told you so. But she does it anyway. I won’t waste time shouting out all my friends because they know who they are, but I have to shed a little light on my Dyna- mos, Eve and Daphne. Their friendship has meant so much to me throughout high school and I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like without them. Except that there would be a lot less singing. I’d also like to thank Norah for being my best friend and other half since fourth grade. I’m not sure how to end this, so I’ll leave off with a quote from a mentor of mine. “It’s not what you’ve done, but what you do with what you’ve done for others.” GREENLEE CORDELL JOSIE DEWINE PARENTS/GUARDIANS: John DeWIne and Michele Burns I can still remember my first day at Mills Lawn Elementary as a first grader. I remember how big the school felt and how scared I was to enter a school without knowing anyone. My first day started with a class full of strangers, but ended with a class full of friends, most of whom have stayed constant to this day. I remember receiving my school email address with the number 23 at the end of it on that first day of first grade in 2011. The seemingly insignificant number represent- ing our graduation year always appeared to be so far away. That was until I was in it, writing my senior supplemental essay for the newspaper, signing my college com- mitment and picking up my cap and gown. I have thoroughly enjoyed growing up in Yellow Springs. When I reminisce about growing up here, I think about helping my mom at the Farmers Market, singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” during the last day of school before winter break sing-along, going down the old yellow slide on the Mills Lawn playground and watch- ing the fireworks every year at Gaunt Park on the Fourth of July. I wouldn’t want to have grown up anywhere else. I would like to thank all of my teachers for their dedication and hard work. Espe- cially Ms. Corrigan, for being everyone’s biggest fan and never failing to teach me basic life skills. My clothes and I would not have survived the last few years without you. Ms. Lutz, for being so loving and caring towards all of her students and for being so passionate about her job. Ms. Eguaroje, for constantly pushing us to be our best selves. Mr. Comstock, for always greeting every student with a smile. Ms. Morrison, for telling the best stories and for making math enjoyable. Thank you to my family — my parents, siblings and grandparents — for supporting me. Thank you to my coaches, Mr. Gudgel, Isabelle and Peter. (Hey Gudge, what did the runner eat when he was in last place? Ketchup!) After high school, I will be attending Saint Mar y’s College in South Bend, Indiana. I plan on majoring in sciences of communicative disorders in pursuit of becoming a speech-language pathologist. As the great Taylor Swift once said, “You know when it’s time to go”. jdewine_2023 logging out — peace out, girl scouts. EVE DIAMOND PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Caryn and David Diamond It’s been a packed year! I’ve struggled in finding moments of peace and reflec- tion on everything I’ll leave behind in a few months. Recently, even though it’s small, the bike ride home from school has provided me moments like that. Cruis- ing through town — passing the deeply familiar houses and street signs, the same people, over and over — has become spe- cial to me. Taking a four-year break in Oahu from Yellow Springs before returning for middle school has made so many places deeply nostalgic. I always feel about 12 years younger when I look at the Little Art Theatre, and running my hands through the sharp, clear water of the Yellow Spring sends me straight back to stacking orange rocks with my brothers to create little dams. I stepped onto a stage for the first time in Yellow Springs Schools’ “The Albert Brown Show,” and graduating to attend Wright State University’s acting program on the heels of “Mamma Mia!” is a surreal full-circle moment. I owe so much to this theater depart- ment and the opportunities it’s presented to me. I’ll never forget the fighting of “Romeo and Juliet,” the flying of “Peter Pan,” the screaming as Damon, Renfield, Dragons and Sydney, the pregnancy, the dancing of “High School Musical,” southern accents, the joy of “The Sound of Music,” and the vocal fatigue and love of “Mamma Mia!” In that vein, I want to thank my mom, Caryn Diamond; Lorrie Sparrow-Knapp; Jaimie Wilke; Stephanie Radford, Mary Fahrenbruck, Jamie Cordes, and all the absolutely wonderful talented peers I’ve had the pleasure of performing with. I know we’re leaving YS theater in good hands! I’m so excited to come back and see the amazing things you guys do. Speaking of peers, I have no idea how I would’ve survived these years without my friends. Oh, the hardships, laughs, walks and songs we’ve shared. I’m not gonna name everybody — I’m too scared of forgetting one — but they know who they are. You guys are everything, thank you for letting me in. Okay! Teachers! I truly appreciate everyone who has ever taught me any- thing, but here are some shout-outs: Jamie Adoff, Dave Smith, Kate Lohmeyer, Paul Comstock, Eli Hurwitz, Hannah Corrigan and John Day. Finally, thank you to my dad for your endless suppor t, advice and excellent musical conducting; thank you Noah for being such an easygoing and kind little brother; thank you Phillip for all your pre- calc help and sassy comments; thank you Bubbie for your love and overall fun-ness; and thank you Mom for your patience, sac- rifice and awesome momming. I’m so grateful I was able to grow up in this town with these people, and I’m going to leave you with a word of wisdom from the late, great, Stephen Sondheim: “Slotted spoons don’t hold much soup, but ... the slotted spoon CAN catch the potato!” ISAAC ELLIS PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Brett and Suzanne Ellis To preface this supplement, I’d like to give you notice that this will be only slightly coherent, barely proofread and as close as I can get to writing something similar to a manifesto of a crazed hermit. In an effort to not start the essay with “I’ve lived in Yellow Springs all my life,” I will instead tell you that simplifying my time at Yellow Springs seems impossible and the village itself has been constantly changing throughout my life. There have been so many defining persons, places and things of Yellow Springs that have impacted my life in so many unknown ways, and by the time they have left or been absent from my interaction, it feels like Yellow Springs lost an essential part of its identity with them. The hole that’s left is filled by a new teacher, a new building, a new path in the Glen, and it sometimes felt like the Ship of Theseus. By the time I got to high school, it was hard to think of Yellow Springs as the same village where I attended Ms. Smith’s kindergarten class. But now I’ve learned to appreciate the change that comes with the passing years. The ability to experience new things while holding onto the memories of the past is an essential part of life, and no matter how hard you try to hold on, noth- ing will stay exactly how you left it. 4 YELLOW SPR I NGS H I GH SCHOOL C L A S S O F 2 0 2 3 A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE YE L LOW SPR I NGS NEWS | MAY 19 , 2023 Coldwell Banker Heritage, Sam Eckenrode Community Children’s Center Current Cuisine Dunphy Real Estate, Inc. O U R S P O N S O R S