WESTPHALIA — Fatima alumni Levi Maxwell told the class of 2025 during Sunday’s graduation ceremony to pursue happiness, but also remember to be kind.

Maxwell, who graduated in 1997, went on to attend East Central College for two years before transferring to Columbia College, where he graduated in 2001 with a degree in education.

Maxwell went on to earn his Masters from William Woods University in 2005, before returning to Fatima to teach Social Studies.

“He likes building relationships and making kids feel welcome in his classroom,” said class Secretary Sam Struemph, during his introduction. “He is always upbeat and wants his students to look forward to his classes.”

“The best advice I can give is to find something that makes you happy and pursue it,” Maxwell told graduates. “But that doesn’t need to be tonight. You just need to soak in the moment and celebrate. Enjoy Project Graduation later this evening. Enjoy the company of your classmates, because after tomorrow, things will change for all of you.

“A lot of you will be off to college, others off to work, and a few of you joined the military,” he added. “You can take these memories with you wherever you go, and I encourage you to hold these memories close, but also make room for new ones.”

Maxwell said he wasn’t sure exactly how to tackle the rest of his speech. “I eventually decided that I would share a couple of pieces of advice and the stories to go along with them,” he said.  “So, I chose two things: be kind and be prepared.

“Every day for the last four years, our bulletin has ended with the phrase, ‘Have a great day, Comets, and be kind,’” Maxwell continued. “It is a great reminder as we start our day to promote kindness. The beautiful part is that it costs nothing to be kind.”

He noted that an act of kindness can range from something small, like a smile, a wave, or opening the door for someone, to something bigger, like stopping someone from getting bullied, or pulling over on the highway to help a stranded motorist.

“We don’t know what is going on in other people’s lives,” said Maxwell. “Sometimes, that random act of kindness can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one. Being kind and positive can make the difference. It can encourage others to follow suit and brighten someone else’s day in the process. A little kindness can go a long way. I encourage you all to be the ray of sunshine on someone’s day and not the rain cloud.”

Maxwell went on to advise students to be prepared. “Life is all about laying the groundwork and being ready when your number is called,” he said. “That’s the funny thing about life. We work so hard to get ourselves in position to be successful, but we don’t always know when our number will be called. Be prepared, get yourself in position to be successful, and when you get the chance, take it.”

After diplomas were awarded by Board of Education President Suzanne Massman and board member Mandy Kliethermes, High School Principal Matt Verslues asked the students in top 10% of the class (co-valedictorians Vivian Bax, Megan Gabelsberger, Reese Heckemeyer, Cooper Herzing, Kristen Robertson, Samuel Struemph, and Kinzey Woody, each with a 4.0 GPA, Lily Gregory - 3.995, Ben Luebbert - 3.995, and Sydney Muenks - 3.994) to come on stage to be recognized. Jace Eisterhold, Wyatt Gabelsburger, and Peyton Helton were recognized for their decision to enlist in the US military. Students who qualified for A+ were also honored.

“Many of our Nichols students have been recognized for honors-level achievement,” Verslues said. “Based on their CTE, GPA of 3.66 or better, and a mastery of at least 90% of the instructional competencies.”

Nichols students Brayden Bexton, William Bock, Waylon Hoeller, Rory MacLellan, George Neuner, Anthony Redel, Eustis Redel-Sharisin, Mya Sankey, Isabella Schaben, Isabelle Starke, and Kevin Weider were recognized for their efforts.

Students who earned any sort of scholarship were likewise recognized, before Class President Kristen Robertson made her remarks.

She began by recognizing Superintendent Chuck Woody, who is retiring.

“We would also like to give a thank you to Mr. Verslues for the time he has spent here with us, even though he is going to be wearing the ugliest color imaginable next year, as he continues his career at Blair Oaks,” Robertson continued.”

She went on to recognize some of her classmates “for their record breaking performances during their time here at Fatima.”

“Matthew ‘Peach Cup’ Kliethermes broke the Guinness Book of World Record for consuming 64 peach cups during one 15-minute lunch break,” she quipped. “Carl Anthony Tobin was voted GQ Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ after his homecoming assembly performance in a cheerleading outfit this winter. Brody Kleffner broke the world record for fastest demolition of a car after obtaining his license. And lastly, but certainly not least, Landon Bassett will make the Fatima record books for the most hours spent in the hospital after being bitten by a possum.

“Our time here at Fatima has been full of successes, failures, triumphs, victories,” Robertson continued. “Some of the best moments of our lives and some of the most trying, and, at the end of the day, we are all better for it.

“I’m not going to stand up here today as a 17-year-old kid and pretend I am wise and offer up advice to anyone, but I have compiled a list of five quotes or advice from people who know a little bit about what life may throw at us,” she added, going on to list the quotes and why she chose them. “We were raised in Osage County. Our parents and guardians are workers. Let’s be as tough as them. Let’s be as tough as the people who raised us in the community we live in.”

Robertson told classmates that over the course of the next few years, they would be faced with some of the biggest decisions of their lives. “The question is, will you take the comfortable route, or will you take the risk that could lead you to greatness? So, let’s live our lives with our hair on fire and chase with passion whatever it is we are looking for,” she said. “And we can’t forget people. People are the most important thing.”

Verslues in his final remarks said, “The group in front of us all today has gained my respect, for many reasons. For example, there has been an extraordinary commitment that has been carried out by these young men and women. I never thought I would see people work so hard to either place sandwich bags on someone’s back or go to such lengths to avoid being the one that gets a sandwich bag on their back.

“All jokes aside, we’ve seen a great commitment in extracurriculars, such as the clubs and sports teams that we have at Fatima, along with the work that so many of these young adults have put in outside of the school system,” Verslues added. “All of this leads to learning accountability. It’s encouraging to know there’s an unwavering commitment in this group. People will, at times, think you’re crazy for working so hard for your goals, and sometimes you might be influenced by a quick fix. We all know quick fixes don’t turn out the same, but if you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you can push past the distractions in life and ultimately become the best version of yourself.”

Verslues encouraged the Class of 2025 to be their best. “Don’t find an easy way if there’s a better way,” he added. “Make habits that will help you be an overcomer. Pursue your dreams and don’t ever sell yourself short.”