Graduating Sunday were Isaac Alarcon, Jessi Badell, Ashlyn Barnett, Rikkayla Beier, Elonora Bernini, Abbi Caddenhead, Maddie Downing, Sadie Dye, Wyatt Frese, Trent Gabriel, Kennedy Galanakis, Emily Gladstone, Haley Hunt, Brandon Huntsman, Liz Lyle, Bryant McCord, Grace McElvain, Trent McElvain, Jacob New, Caleb Parman, Megan Percell, Rilee Rush, Bailee Walker, and Jeremy Wimer.
Galanakis said that they brought home a lot of trophies in sports and activities during her speech. She recounted memories of all her classmates; she said Grace McElvain was one of the hardest workers around, Rikkayla Beier was funny even when she didn’t mean to be, Ashlyn Barnett was a crazy good gymnast, Jeremy Wimer was a good country singer, Emily Gladstone was always outspoken, Hailey Hunt played softball and lived the farm life to the fullest, Jacob New and Caleb Parman were either always in the weightroom or drinking energy drinks, and Bryant McCord and Isaac Alarcon were concerned about their left socks as much as anything.
Sponsor April Healy told them she was amazed at how well they got along as a class even though they could be like Comedy Central when it came to making Homecoming floats. She said during decorations, there were those who helped, those who helped with one hand and held their cell phones in the other, those who carried around footballs, and those who would take off for supplies and disappeared. Despite all their setbacks in contests, they finally came up with a good float last year that came in second; it was the float with the boom box and people dancing to Michael Jackson tunes. Another time, they huddled together to come up with a good cheer during pep rally, only for Trent Gabriel to break out a trumpet and start playing.
Mrs. Healy also talked about the time they went on a field trip, tried their hand at golf, and sliced the ball all over the place, being fortunate only to plunk one person; they were not injured. “You guys came across as so easygoing, people underestimated you,” she said. A perfect example was in basketball, where Worth County, supposedly in rebuilding mode in boys basketball, won close game after close game, with one team after another walking off the floor in disbelief at losing to the Tigers. They beat heavily favored Mercer in district semifinals and made it to finals before falling, getting a winning season. “You guys all had each other’s backs,” she said. “Don’t follow your passion, take it with you.”
Chris Healy told them to be committed in everything to do. “It’s all about attitude and effort, because those are the two things you can control,” he said. “Surround yourself with people who will push you to be your best.”
Valedictorian Liz Lyle recounted how some of them got stuck on a bus that had broken down coming home from a trip and how some had fallen off the floats. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart,” she said.
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