Gazing at his Jefferson High School classmates, graduate Jacob Rasch shared words of wisdom and encouragement. “Everyone has had late night essay writing sessions, completing geometry assignments with a coffee-fueled speed because it’s the night before its due, meaningless drama and feuds, and troubles, that at the time, felt too great,” said the salutatorian. “Too large. Too difficult. There were times when we questioned our- selves and doubted our abilities. There were times that we thought ‘I can’t do this.’ But now, this very moment, I can proudly look at my classmates, the graduating class of 2017, and joyfully say, ‘We did it!’”
He advised the listening grads to be men and women of integrity, live humbly, live simply and live happily. He told them, “Life is going to be difficult. There will be things that we can never be prepared to handle. However, don’t lose sight of what life is about: to live!”
The enthusiasm and spirit with which class members celebrated commencement made it clear many of them already believe in seizing the day. Individuality and creativity shined through, especially in the reactions they displayed after being handed a diploma. They posed, they mugged, they joined in high fives and thumbs up, and one vogued with flair. And many of them quietly and without fanfare presented Superintendent Tim Norbeck with an egg, carrying on a tradition started a few years ago in which each class member provides him with some trinket to remember them by. Norbeck said he did not know the significance of the eggs but intended to find out.
“Every year we hear ‘this class is special,’” said school board member and father of a graduate Larry Rasch, adding that the Class of 2017 is truly special. They have been leaders in art, drama, culinary arts, music and in so many ways, but perhaps their greatest quality is that they clearly care about one another. “I love you,” could be heard ringing out from the podium and from graduates repeatedly.
Valedictorian Liuda Karaseva told fellow graduates, “People have said, ‘High school is the best time of your life.’ I’m not going to lie; I really hope it isn’t.” She wished her classmates a future in which they will “strive to make it even better than the ‘best time’ of our lives.” She concluded, “All I hope for our class is that every single one of us will find a way to give back to what you all gave to us and that we will prosper and shine through everything we do. Thank you, Jefferson High School, for giving us the beginning of our future.”
Delivering the commencement address was Mike Hesford, English and drama teacher and father of graduate Isaiah Hesford. He relied on famous literary works studied by the students during high school to underscore his message. He closed his address by saying he always asked his students to do something creative, something brave, and he followed that advice by singing a song. When he finished, his son was the first to jump to his feet for a standing ovation. Many of the graduates were invited to stand as their scholarships were announced.
Others stood as the military branch they will be joining was shared. Many were adorned with honor cords, signifying membership in the National Honor Society, Thespians, or Red Cross Society of frequent blood donors.
Forty-seven individuals crossed the stage, members of the Class of 2017. They were Tyler Anderson, Dewey Arnold, Aiden Bagwell, Savana Cagle, Kolter Calnan, Jacob Conway, Jerilyn Copenhaver, Cody Davis, Matthew Grace, Hanna Grimsrud, Alex Gunlock, Chance Hecht, Isaiah Hesford, Na- than Hoechst, Vincent Jackman, Faith Jones, Liuda Karaseva, Lincoln Leary, Kaitlin Mandell, Kaden Massey, Maggie Moritz, Caleb O’Brien, Tawnee Ogden, Bryce Oliver, Conrad Olsway, Kaylee Ott- man, Logan Pallister, Tyler Pankratz, Liz Pierce, Jacob Rasch, Antonia Rokke, Hailey Rogne, Dylan Rosenbaum, Madi Roudebush, Breanna Rykal, Olea Saevik, Preston Shipley, Garret Siler, Merrill Steketee, Serena Stiles, Savannah VanValkenburgh, Latrice Vossler, Levi Vossler, Wade Warren, Madison Wood, Paige Yanzick and Ethan Zufelt.
