Ansbach High School graduates 13 in the class of 2019

By Amy Stork, USAG Ansbach Public AffairsJune 5, 2019

Ansbach High School graduates 13 in the class of 2019
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ANSBACH, Germany (June 5, 2019) -- Thirteen seniors graduated from Ansbach High School June 4, as more than 150 students, parents, family members, friends and community members watched the class of 2019 receive their diplomas.

During the commencement address, Christopher Benson, Director of Public Works and Master Planning Division chief, told the graduates the key to success was working hard every day.

"You have to work hard to give yourself the best opportunity to be successful," he said. "It doesn't matter what it is or what you decide to do, but to be successful at something, to be better than the next guy, you have to put in the work, so you create the opportunities you want in life."

According to Ansbach Middle/High School principal, Dr. Marshall Blankenship, the graduates are familiar with this sentiment. The class of 2019 is the first graduating class in which every senior has taken at least one college course.

"Every single one of the seniors has taken an Advanced Placement (AP) course," he said. I don't know anywhere else that has happened. One of our seniors scored a 5, which is a perfect score, on his AP test. So, we are very proud and confident that these kids will go do good things."

Including the Valedictorian and Salutatorian, two other graduates secured at least a 3.5 grade point average.

Of the thirteen graduates, one will enlist in the Army and the other 12 will attend college. The future collegiates have approximately $400k in scholarships between them.

Not only did the graduates prove themselves academically, but they also proved to be accomplished athletes, winning the 2018 European Championship in Football and Soccer.

"They are a pretty high achieving class," said Dr. Blankenship. "These kids were very athletic and one was All Europe in Basketball, Football and Track, and two of them were All Europe in Football and Soccer."

During the ceremony, valedictorian Jessica Livingston thanked everyone who attended the graduation and passed along some words of wisdom to her fellow graduates and friends.

"We stand upon the pedestal of infinite possibility. Not for what we have or for what we have done, but for what we still have to do," she said. "So 2019 graduates, today is the first day of the rest of our lives, but so was yesterday and so will be tomorrow, and so will be every day after."

For the 13 graduates, the evening proved to be a special event as each senior thanked their families, friends and teachers individually as they received their diplomas. They completed their commencement with tradition, joining each other on the football field to toss their caps in the air to celebrate.

Related Links:

Ansbach High School Graduation Video