One of the biggest perks about writing for a community newspaper is the opportunity given to meet local students cutting out paper dolls in kindergarten, then follow their growth through graduation and beyond.
However, the number of students we’ve followed have been fewer and fewer over the years.
One-hundred, thirty-five members of the Class of 2024 have impressed with their academic, athletic and extra curricular achievements. But this is less than half the 252 who donned caps and gowns in 2008. That year, the 142 graduates who walked were considered the lowest number of seniors in recent history. Then, Suttons Bay had the largest senior class at 74; Glen Lake, 73 and Leland, 43; St. Mary, 22; and Northport, 12.
Over the weekend, Glen Lake’s class of 46 represented the largest group of graduates; Suttons Bay, 34; Leland, 28; St. Mary, 15 and Northport, three.
The drop in student population correlates with demographics in the county which are dominated by gray. According to the 2020 Census, the number of county residents age 60 or older numbered 9,382 and the county’s median age was 55.2 years — not of childbearing age.
Likewise, student numbers may reflect the housing market in the county, which in April put the median listing home price in Leelanau at $785,000.
If you attended one of high school graduation ceremonies held over the weekend, no doubt you were impressed with all the accolades.
Hard work in the classroom was on display. But we’ve been just as impressed by the students’ hard work at ... work.
Long before county students go on to learn skilled trades or earn sheepskins in college, they receive big career breaks raising cattle, shaking cherries and sweeping floors in Leelanau County.
What’s that, you ask? What does cleaning up spilled coffee have to do with a career path?
Hard work. Summer jobs — bagging groceries at Hansen Foods; scooping ice cream at the Harbor House; tending boaters at local marinas and skimming tanks during the cherry harvest — also provide students with an “education” of sorts. All of those summer jobs represent career paths. Lacking a silver spoon, the best advice we can give students is to embrace the on-the-job education provided while working alongside adults who know the value of a dollar earned.
Being placed on a honor roll represents an important accomplishment. So does graduating at the top of your class.
But without a strong work ethic, neither will get you to your highest destiny.
To county graduates, we’re suggesting that you will likely have to sweep more floors before you own the building.
We’ve noticed that most of you don’t mind sweeping, and so have those around you.
Regardless of the life path you follow, know that you’ve had support of your school community and county community at large.
Here’s hoping student numbers rebound and the Leelanau community can continue to monitor and share their accomplishments!
