Class of 2015: Marian Central ‘family’ bids farewell to graduates

WOODSTOCK – Just before her graduation Friday, Abbey McClain posed for a photo with her teacher, a flower crown with long ribbon tails she made for him tucked underneath his doctoral cap.

As a senior at Marian Central Catholic High School, McClain often wore flower crowns, and Dr. Glenn Pinnau noticed.

“He told me one day, ‘How does it feel to know that you can brighten someone’s day by wearing flowers?’ ” McClain said.

Government wasn’t a subject she was particularly interested in, but having a teacher like Pinnau helped, she said. It was that kind of small-school interaction that made her happy to attend Marian as part of the 183 graduates in the Class of 2015.

For many, attending Marian is family tradition.

Larry Herff’s three children graduated from Marian, as have four of his grandchildren. Two more grandkids, Jacquelyn Simmons and Anna Herff, walked across the stage Friday, and he said his seven other grandkids plan on attending the school as well.

He joked before the ceremony that it would last seven hours, with everyone leaving around 2 a.m.

“Two more down, seven to go,” Herff said as he expertly posed his friends and family for photos.

In her valedictorian address, Hannah O’Hagan often touched on the family atmosphere at the school.

“The unique blend of students here at Marian is what makes our school a great place,” she said. “Each individual contributed to the Marian family in a different way, and at the end of the day, we all support each other.”

Each student has a story about how they ended up at Marian, many of whom were “born Hurricanes” as children of proud alumni and others continuing on from Catholic grade schools, O’Hagan said.

She recalled attending her first football game in 6th grade, which she left knowing she wanted to attend Marian.

“It’s hard to believe that our time together here at Marian has come to an end, but we are ready to move on,” O’Hagan said. “I cannot wait to see what God has planned for us, Marian Central Catholic High School’s graduating class of 2015.”

The Rev. David J. Malloy, bishop of the Rockford Diocese, delivered the benediction, calling on the graduates to move forward with their knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, and to also be generous.

“You have a responsibility that you bear as you go out,” Malloy said. “You have not just received a diploma; you have received a responsibility. You must now continue and sacrifice in a way that gives honor to God, and your family, and this school that you have had the blessing to attend.”