Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Conner Kline holds his rose affectionately after graduating Saturday, June 8.
Annmarie Bolyard receives her diploma from principal JoLynn Ray at graduation Saturday, June 8.
REARDAN -Graduates, parents, faculty, teachers, fellow classmates and AI technology were all thanked and recognized at the Reardan High School graduation where 44 students received high school diplomas Saturday, June 8.
The ceremony began with the processional in the high school gym as graduates were escorted by junior honor guards Ally Burtenshaw, Bryson Flaa, Amelia Ray and Rysen Soliday.
Class president and co-valedictorian Wyatt Stolp opened the speeches with a thank you to teachers, administration and family members. The band then led the crowd in the National Anthem.
Stolp took the mic again to begin his valedictorian address, saying he made thousands of memories in high school.
"The path to success is not a linear line," Stolp said. "Success will look different and arrive at different times for each of us."
"There will be several ups and downs...but I'm confident each of us will take that first step."
The other co-valedictorian, Tate Nelson, was next to speak. He began by jokingly thanking ChatGPT for writing his speech before calling high school a "constant roller coaster of ups and downs."
"But to quote Rocky Balboa, 'it ain't about how hard you hit,'" Nelson said. "It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.'"
Nelson credited his father, Brett, with being the "most inspirational person I know" and teaching him to avoid a victim mentality.
"We should enjoy the road we have ahead of us," Nelson said. "Let's make the most of the journey ahead."
Staff-elected speakers Aidan Chilson and Ashley Landt were next, imploring their classmates to "keep the pride inside the school."
Class-elected speaker Kassidy Koch said it's time for the Class of 2024 to "enter the world and find out who we are."
After the speeches, a 15-minute senior slideshow was shown. Diplomas were disbursed to hoots and hollers from supporters in the crowd before the ceremony concluded with a recessional.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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