Ben Ernst, a 1977 Chillicothe High School graduate who has led a long successful career in the U.S. military and is now the Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Health Services in St. Joseph, Mo., spoke to a large crowd Monday night in the Chillicothe High School commons during the annual Academic Awards banquet.

Ernst began his remarks by introducing the theme for the banquet, provided by Theodore Roosevelt: “Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.” However, drawing on his memories of growing up and listening to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 Countdown on the radio each week, Ernst recalled the popular DJ’s favorite saying: “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

“Keeping your feet on the ground is what we call being grounded in the basics. Let’s look at what kept me grounded to not only reality but what also kept me reaching for that star, my dream,” he said.

So, Ernst began with a countdown of his own, starting with No. 8.

8. “We are the World,” recorded by a group of popular singers in 1985 to help aid starving children in Africa. Ernst said children are born focused on their own well being, but, by the time they graduate high school, they should be capable of understanding, appreciation and sympathizing with others.

“Compassion helps us understand our place in the world and ensures we are emotionally well-rounded,” Ernst said. He added that he thought he knew a lot about compassion, but until he saw poor people in the Philippines, Korea, and Iraq through serving in the military, and now in his new job in northwest Missouri, he said he doesn’t think he was truly able to empathize with people — especially the poor.

“You need to get out and experience this if you haven’t already,” Ernst told the students. He advised them to go on mission trips, volunteer and serve to aid the poor, the needy, the hungry and those in prison.

7. “That’s What Friends Are For,” by Dionne Warwick. Ernst said the friends students make in high school are often life long friends. And, he said, if not, the friendships built at CHS can serve as a basis on which they build other relationships.

“Given the tremendous importance of relationships, it’s surprising we receive so little instruction on how to evaluate, prune and nurture them,” Ernst said.

He advised students to evaluate their relationships and surround them with positive ones.
“Your ability to select a suitable spouse will greatly influence your financial and emotional wellbeing, yet parents and teachers seldom mention it,” Ernst said. He offered a few “common sense guidelines” to help students in that regard.

“Pick someone who’s a joy to be around and who makes you happy; know the person well; ensure compatability beyond the physical because beauty and youth are fleeting, while the mind and heart endure.

6. “Semper Fidelis,” the official march of the Marine Crops. Ernst said that the Marines and Navy helped grow the special beliefs he’s had since he was an Eagle Scout in Troop 120 at the United Methodist Church in Chillicothe.

“Take time to determine what you want and how to obtain it,” Ernst said.

5. “Let’s Get Physical,” by Olivia Newton John. Ernst told the students that no single thing has done as much to improve his outlook as getting healthy. After urging students to get active, Ernst said that he though running in high school was enough to get him in shape.
“Marine boot camp taught me otherwise after four years of sitting around studying in college. It gets harder as you get older, start young,” he said.........