Valedictorian Wyatt Sluga and Salutatorian Chase Smallback pose before Randolph Central School’s graduation Friday. Guest speaker John Sayegh addressed the 58 graduates. Photo by Deb Everts

RANDOLPH — Fifty-eight members of the Randolph Central School Class of 2018 received their diplomas as part of the commencement exercises at the high school auditorium on Friday.

Salutatorian Chase Smallback congratulated his peers for their achievements and making it through the first significant milestone of all their lives.

“Life is not defined by those that win and those that lose. It is about those who learn from the losses, remain humble during the wins and successes, and those who choose to continue to move forward after both,” he said. “Better yourselves every day, continue to learn, don’t be afraid to make jokes and have fun. They say life is short, but it’s still the longest thing you’ll ever have to do. Enjoy it.”

John J. Sayegh was guest speaker at Randolph’s commencement exercises. He is vice president of the Jamestown Community College, Cattaraugus County Campus in Olean, Center for Continuing Education and External Partnerships.

“In this great land, the land of opportunity to dream big is within your reach. It is up to you to get to the goal, or goals, that you have set for yourself,” he said. “You and you alone can and will achieve any dream you might have with hard work, resilience and an objective for excellence.”

Valedictorian Wyatt Sluga said he hopes that no matter what path each of the classmates follow, they will leave each person they meet happier and each place that they discover in a better state than they found it.

“Every one of us has our own list of successes and failures that we’ll be able to share for the rest of our lives, and it is that list of experiences that has proven to me that we all have to potential to help make the world a better place to live in,” he said.

AWARDS AND

SCHOLARSHIPS

¯ Kelley Jo MacLaughlin Memorial Scholarship: Kendalle Booth, BobbiAn Burdick, Matthew Evans, Devin Foster, Michael Kibbe, Allison Mansfield, Claire Roosa, Wyatt Sluga, Chase Smallback, Sarah Steward, Tessa Timblin

¯ Randolph American Legion Award: Wyatt Sluga

¯ Martha Freeman-O’Brien Memorial Scholarship: Sara Peterson, Chase Smallback

¯ Randolph Masonic Lodge #359 Scholarship: Wyatt Sluga, Chase Smallback

¯ Conewango Fire Department Chief’s Memorial Scholarship: Cale Hawkins, BobbiAn Burdick, Sarah Steward

¯ Todd Livermore Memorial Scholarship: Devin Foster, Cale Hawkins

¯ Willis N. Archer Ag Scholarship: Kendalle Booth

¯ Alton B. Inkley Award: BobbiAn Burdick, Kassidy Gower, Cale Hawkins

¯ Larry Sullivan-Lions Club Community Service Award: Matthew Evans, Morgan Kish

¯ Randolph Lion’s Club Award: Cale Hawkins, Kayle Marsh

¯ Cattaraugus County Bank Community Service Award: Matthew Evans

¯ Eugene Milks Agriculture Scholarship: Kendalle Booth

¯ Randolph Memorial VFW Post and Women’s Auxiliary #6533: BobbiAn Burdick

¯ Congdon Award: Michael Kibbe, Zephran Pennington

¯ Richard A. Hotchkiss Scholarship: Michael Kibbe, Zephran Pennington

¯ Donald J. Wishart Memorial Scholarship: Matthew Evans

¯ Randolph Central School Service Staff Association Scholarship (RCSSSA): Sara Peterson

¯ Raymond Van Wie Award: Chase Smallback

¯ Milton R. Horak Scholarship: Allison Mansfield

¯ Robert & Peggy Paisley Memorial Scholarship: Cale Hawkins

¯ Jamestown Community College USA Scholarship: Taylor Braley, Jacob Brown, Cale Hawkins, Claire Roosa, Jonathan Schultz, Chase Smallback

¯ Laurel Wishart DePietro Memorial Scholarship: Allison Mansfield

¯ Eva Kate Cowen Anderson Scholarship: Kassidy Gower

¯ American Red Cross Blood Services High School Scholarship: Chase Smallback

¯ Paul & Marjorie Mead Agricultural Scholarship: Sarah A. Steward

¯ John Edward McLaughlin Family Memorial Scholarship: Kendalle Booth, Jacob Brown, BobbiAn Burdick, Matthew Evans, Kassidy Gower, Cale Hawkins, Michael Kibbe, Morgan Kish, Zephran Pennington, Wyatt Sluga, Sarah Stahley, Sarah Steward, Tessa Timblin, Isaac Wakefield, Autumn Walters

¯ Spinner Scholarship: Mackenzie Bentley, Kendalle Booth, Jacob Brown, Kane Carlson, Alexis Cline, Dakota Donaldson, Matthew Evans, Kassidy Gower, Cale Hawkins, Madison Hinman, Morgan Kish, Kayle Marsh, Sarah Nieman, Sara Peterson, Claire Roosa, Jonathan Schultz, Wyatt Sluga, Chase Smallback, Tessa Timblin, Autumn Walters.