By DAVE SCHULTZ
There was an abundance of wonderful things on the campus of Southern Wells Community Schools Sunday afternoon — sunshine, hugs, celebrations, joy, and at least one shout of “Hallelujah!” when a graduate received a diploma.
Commencement for Southern Wells High School saw friends and family gather for what was literally a moment in the sun for the members of the Class of 2022.
There were 71 members of the class listed on the program, and each of them that were present for the ceremony walked across the bleachers at Carnes Field and were celebrated accordingly.
Three members of the class — Valedictorian Rachel Baumgartner, Salutatorian Elizabeth Geisel, and Senior Class President Donita Harris — addressed their fellow graduates, as did Principal Kim Conner and Superintendent Brian Sloan.
Baumgartner recalled entering Southern Wells and spoke of the journey that got the graduates to where they were Sunday afternoon.
She issued a word of caution, however. It may be customary to encourage graduates to become “the class that changes the world,” she said, but she urged her fellow graduates to make sure they did what they could for those around them.
“Each of us has the potential to change the little corner of the world we live in,” she said. She also encouraged her classmates to measure success “not by what you can get, but by what you can give.”
Although she achieved no small degree of academic success, Geisel said she wasn’t a big fan of going to school. She said she asked her mother, when she was in third grade, how long she would have to continue to go to school. “When I heard there were 12 grades, I about fell over,” she said. After a moment’s pause, she continued: “Well, I guess I survived.”
“Even though every person’s path will be different, one thing we will all have in common is that we will be part of the Southern Wells Class of 2022,” Geisel said.
“Today is a special day, but it also is the start of our future,” she added. “We are all moving away from the past, and our lives will forever change.”
Harris spoke near the end of the ceremony, after the graduates had turned their tassels.
“After today we will officially be on our own, without any help from teachers or staff,” she said. “That’s scary to think about, right? But there is little doubt in my mind that we’re going to be all right.”
Conner said she has enjoyed having this group at the school. “This class has been a lot of fun to see them grow and a lot of fun to be around,” she said.
The ceremony included two selections performed by the school band. Special music from the choir has omitted from the program due to a technical difficulty.
daves@news-banner.com
