At 2 p.m. on June 4, the class of 2023 will say goodbye to Mentor High and hello to the real world. We’re bringing you everything you need to know about Commencement 2023. 

Timeline 

The treasured day begins at noon on Sunday, June 4th. At this time all graduates will begin loading onto a school bus for one last ride to Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center. This brings us to the iconic bus picture. It is usually a beautiful sight seeing all those buses at once driving down the freeway. This year our graduates will file into 16 buses.

The doors to the Wolstein Center will open to the public around 1 p.m. as the class of 2023 organizes themselves. By 1:50 p.m., Mr. Steve Poremba, Mentor High’s Band Director, will flick his baton to signal the beginning of the procession. This will be led by the staff, then the senior class officers, and the rest of the graduating class.

Following the procession, we will hear some musical selections from the MHS Mixed Choir and the MHS Commencement band. Next, we will hear from a couple of seniors. First, Senior Class President, AJ Jerson, followed by seniors Anna English and Maddy Bender.

Once the speeches have concluded, we will begin the presentation of diplomas. Each student will have their photograph taken, then proceed up the stairs where their name will then be read by a class officer. They will then make their way across the stage to receive their diploma from a Board Member.

Check out the Senior Slideshow from Commencement here: Senior Slideshow

After every student has received their diploma, we will hear from Unit 12 Principal, Ms. Bobbi Borac. Finally, all graduates will stand and sing the Mentor High Alma Mater one last time. At last, the moment all graduates have been waiting for, they move their tassels from right to left, throw their caps high, and officially graduate from Mentor High School. 

Here is the live link to the Commencement Ceremony: Mentor Commencement 2023

This ceremony will conclude a busy senior season.  That actually began with the “Senior Picnic” and checkout for Senior Project on May 12. The Senior Project Expo took place on May 26.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Mr. Steve Couch

Zach spent his time with City of Mentor Economic Director Kevin Malecek

In addition to earning a diploma, many seniors were awarded numerous scholarships and awards at the annual Senior Awards program. Below is a list of seniors who earned academic distinction at this year’s program:

Department Awards

• Computer Science – Gianna Cesari
• Math – Rhea Sahoo & Matthew Dawson
• Art – Caitlin Wong
• English – Abigail O’Donnell

 Scholarships

• The Andy Snajdar Foundation Scholarships
  • Caitlin Wong
  • Abigail O’Donnell
• Cardinal Parents Club Scholarship
  • Bradley Backston
  • Angelina DiFranco
  • Ava Collins
  • Abigail Menough
  • Jake Smelcer
• The Charleen Gawronski Leadership Scholarship – Caden Coleman
• Christ Child Scholarship – Jacob Smelcer
• Erie Bank Scholarship – Isabella Masiello
• Lake County Council PTA Scholarship – Braden Lohrey
• Mad City Money Competition 
  • 1st Place – Manav Malik, Emily Meckler, Ishani Zimmerman
  • 2nd Place – Kaylee Gommel, Alia Magerko, Nicholas Seifert
  • 3rd Place – Kate Carroll, Alexis Mazza, Mitchell Waite
• Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation Scholarship
  • Bradley Backston
  • Caden Coleman
  • Ava Collins
  • Juliana Gunvalsen
  • Bennett Wong
• Mentor High School Class of 1976 Scholarships
  • Caden Coleman
  • Annette Penley Allied Health Scholarship – Alexa Govedich
  • CTE Scholarship – Lane Capel
  • CTE Scholarship – Angelina Tas
  • Deborah & Denise Curle Career Educator Scholarship – Kiersten Grantz
• Mentor High School PTSA Scholarship 
  • Caden Coleman
  • Rebekah Denton
  • Owen Seech-Hrvatin
  • Braden Lohrey
  • Teresa Morek
  • Jacob Smelcer
• Mentor High School Science Olympiad Scholarship
  • Madeline Bender
  • Emily Meckler
  • Anthony Pastore
  • Mackenzie Wheeler
  • Amelia Wong
  • Jenia Patel
• Mentor Professional Firefighters Local 1845 Scholarship 
  • Jacob Smelcer
  • Madaline Womack
• Mentor Schools Foundation Scholarships
  • Cameron Mayhand
  • Nina Preuer
  • Alan Fabian Scholarship – Taylor Schindley
• General Academic Scholarships
  • Nikolas Calabrese
  • Caden Coleman
  • Braden Lohrey
  • Abigail Menough
• Lois Stull Memorial Scholarship – Hannah Colao
• Thomas Davidson Memorial Scholarship – Steven Dohm
• Ohio PTA Scholarship – Braden Lohrey
• Red Cross Scholarship
  • Anna English
  • Adrianna Valerio
• Riley Pearson “OU, Oh Yeah!” Scholarship – Cameron Everett
• Rita Matteo Memorial Scholarship – Caden Coleman
• Ron Stapleton Memorial Scholarship – Savannah Dennison
• Senn Chem Scholarship – Charles Mitchell
• Tami Burns Music Scholarship – Owen Seech-Hrvatin
• The Ted Hieronymous Foundation Music Scholarship – Matthew Dawson
• University Hospitals-Lake Health Career Scholarship – Paige Davis