Graduates Look Forward to New Beginnings
by Cayce Carlson
Looking forward to the next chapter in life, 56 students from the class of 2019 graduated on Saturday, May 11, at Pierce High School.
To start off the commencement, during the processional, the band played under the direction of Mr. Mike Sindt. Class president Jakob Meier then gave a welcome speech highlighting the importance of working hard and showing up. Then, along with fellow class officers Janae Arens and Dylan Delka, he presented the class t-shirts to guidance counselor Mary Birch, class sponsor and teacher Tom Edmisten, principal Mark Brahmer, custodian Steve Dolesh, lunch staff Beth Lienemann, and school secretary Lu Prahl to show the class’s appreciation for all these people had done for them over the years.
The choir, directed by Terri Haselhorst, then performed the song “For Just a Little While.” The academic letters and the honor graduates were presented by principal Mark Brahmer. Samantha Svendsen gave the salutatorian speech about the parallels between good public speaking advice and advice for succeeding in high school, and Janae Arens and Jakob Meier gave the valedictorian speech about appreciating time and not letting the little things slip by. The scholarships and awards were then presented by school counselor, Mary Birch. A video with photos of the seniors, which was created by Samantha Svendsen, was then played for the crowd. Finally, the Presentation of the class was done by superintendent Kendall Steffensen. The diplomas were presented by Ted Krienke, president of the Pierce Board of Education. To end the commencement, the band played during the recessional.
The class of 2019’s motto, said by Ralph Waldo Emerson, was, “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” The class flower was the blue calla lily. The class colors were royal blue and white. The junior ushers were Zoe Brenden, Jakob Edins, Sydney Erickson, Dalton Freeman, Addison Johnson, and Carson Oestreich.
School counselor Mary Birch, who is also making her exit from PHS this year for her retirement, said, “Every year when the seniors graduate, I always look back on the graduating class with warm affection. A part of my heart goes back with each of them. I want every graduating senior to do well and to have the courage to face, in the most positive way, whatever life puts in front of them.”
