By Mark Ambrogi
Natalie Cotherman made a promise to herself after sitting through the Carmel High School graduations for her brother, Brandt (2010) and sister, Taylor (2012).
“I knew if I was going to sit through another Carmel graduation, I was going to make it a little more interesting,” Cotherman said. “That was goal, to make this graduation different than the ones I’ve been before.”
It will be, as Cotherman will be giving a short speech at the commencement ceremony May 25 at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Cotherman successfully auditioned and was selected May 16 by a committee of teachers.
“I was quite surprised, because a lot of the people that auditioned were overqualified for it,” Cotherman said. “I definitely felt intimidated a little by the competition, but I knew I had written a good speech and presented it to the best of my ability.”
She is one of three senior speakers, along with the senior class president and the distinguished graduate.
There were 10 seniors who auditioned for the spot.
“The speech auditions this year were incredible — truly one of the toughest decisions we’ve had to make over the years,” said CHS English teacher and media specialist John Love, who has coordinated the tryouts for several years. “Having to choose just one speaker was a difficult task of the committee. The CHS Class of 2017 is an extremely gifted group of students who show great promise for the future.”
Love said he selects a word or theme.
“I give them a general topic to write their speech,” Love said. “Each speech is always different as every kid is. It’s been great to see the different variety of kids and what they come up with.”
The speech is two to three minutes about the topic, which was “almost” this year.
Cotherman, who will attend Indiana Wesleyan to major in nursing, throws the shot put and discus for CHS track and field. She was on the swimming team as a senior and is a member of the National Honor Society.
