NEWELL—A cool, cloudy day didn’t hamper the excitement inside of Austin Auditorium as family and friends gathered to celebrate the graduation of a small class of Newell High School students.
Eleven graduates draped in maroon and white caps and gowns filed in one at a time while Pomp and Circumstance played. After they were seated, Dr. Pandi Pittman, Superintendent, welcomed all the graduates and guests. “This is a great day to celebrate the achievements of these young people as they move forward, thank you for attending,” she said.
Graduation speaker was Cara Muckridge, Director of Student Support, she shared an inspirational message to the graduates discussing how she has watched the students grow up through the years and become adults ready to take on the world and succeed at whatever they choose to do next in life.
Being a smaller school with a small class of graduates allows the ability to offer some special traditions. Jayden Tesch put together a slide show highlighting each student and their chosen senior quote, song and a montage of pictures from a young child to current age were displayed.
Another unique activity is called the Presentation of Flowers. Graduates go to the front of the room and pick up carnations and then walk around and deliver them to whomever they deem important or influential in their lives. It is a sweet ritual that allows for hugs, tears and smiles to those giving the flowers and those receiving them.
Salutatorian, Jayden Tesch was welcomed to the stage to address the audience and expressed appreciation for his classmates.
Valedictorian, Hailey McCann spoke about the importance of being present. “I pushed myself hard, sometimes too hard, sacrificing sleep, time with friends…but during this past year, I learned something that changed my perspective. While grades and GPA matter, what matters more is the experience, the connections, the memories and the joy of being involved in the present. That is the real point of these four years,” she said. “Working hard is important, but so is giving yourself permission to enjoy life—it’s okay to laugh, to have fun and to be imperfect!”
Board Chairperson, Tyrel Bonnet presented diplomas to each graduate. Those receiving diplomas were Jamin Benjamin Davidson, Cody Kayden Jones, Conor Flynn Kenny, Darin Jaime Lewis, Hailey Jo McCann, Kianna Jean Miller, Isaac Dean Stark, Hayden Ray Taigaafi, Jayden Cameron Tesch, Bejae Rian Tesch and Justin Nathaniel Yates.
After receiving diplomas the graduates threw their caps in the air and exploded canisters of confetti to celebrate. They walked out of the auditorium to their class song, I’ll Be There For You, by Rembrandts. Ushers helping them were Sarah Erk, Rowdy Franklin, Tayla Neely and Michael Lawson.
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