Graduation 2020 Highlights

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After a long planning period and even last-minute changes made to the schedule due to forecasted storms, graduation for the Class of 2020 was held on Sunday, June 21st at 2:00 p.m. at the Cardinal Athletic Complex.  Graduates, their parents and immediate family were in attendance. 

The event started with the graduates entering the complex to "Pomp and Circumstance" from the northeast corner. Graduates were seated on the track with their parents. Welcome and Introduction of Speakers was done by Superintendent Dr. Mark Hopkins. Clarissa Weitzel presented her speech titled "Excellence Achieved", followed by Tyler Pollock's speech "To the Class of 2020".  Sophie Showalter's pre-recorded song "Dear Class of 2020" was played next.  

The audience was treated to a surprise visit and performance by Country Music Singer, Drew Baldridge. Drew has been meeting and performing for students mostly via Zoom during the pandemic and was asked by a few of our seniors if he could sing at our graduation. He initially had a scheduling conflict and replied that he was unable to come. Less than a week before graduation, Mr. Baldridge reached out to the school administration and conveyed that his scheduled had changed and he would like to come and perform, keeping the appearance a surprise. Drew performed two of his hits "Middle of Nowhere Kids" and "Senior Year".

Next in the program, honors & awards were recognized by Dr. Hopkins. Twenty-three of the 61 graduates were members of the National Honor Society. Fifteen students graduated with honors and 24 graduated with high honors.  More than 100 scholarships were awarded to our graduating students. The Graduation Highlight YouTube video linked below shows the honors, awards and scholarships given to each of our seniors.

Finally, diplomas were presented to the graduates, with the unique opportunity for parents to accompany the student to the stage and present the diploma to their child. 

The ceremony was live streamed during graduation, however, the wind created some excess noise. The edited graduation video posted to YouTube contains audio without as much wind noise and some text overlays that make watching the graduation ceremony more enjoyable. The parent "Senior Video" is also added at the end of this graduation video.

Congratulations and best wishes to our graduates!

Information about the Class:

President: Clarissa Weitzel

Vice President: Tyler Pollock

Secretary: Luke Mieska

Treasurer: Jacob Keay

Flower: Sunflower

Colors: Red and White

Motto: "Behind you all your memories. Before you all your dreams. Around you all who love you. Within you, all you need." ~Lilli Vaihere

Song: "Even Though I'm Leaving" ~Luke Combs

Board Members:  Brandon Vorthmann, President, Mickey Stogdill, Vice President, Keith Christensen, B.J. Dreyer, Stephen Winchell and Cindy VanFosson, Secretary/Treasurer.

Pictures taken by professional photographer, Taylor Sudmann, are in the processing stage and a link will be shared with parents and students as soon as they are available.