HAXTUN — Seventeen students walked into the Haxtun High School gym Sunday afternoon; 17 alumni walked out.
Several mentions were made during the graduation ceremony of the close connections the classmates have, to one another and to their community.
"Ready or not," valedictorian Kyra Ness said the next stage of the graduates' lives is beginning.
But, "We will always remember our roots and this town," she said.
She predicted success for each of her classmates, who collectively have received more than $100,000 in scholarships to date for 2013.
Salutatorian Elliott Krogmeier also showed how well the classmates know one another, sharing humorous anecdotes about each of them and leaving the audience wiping tears of laughter from their eyes.
During the ceremony, the class presented their gift to the school: clocks placed throughout the building, as well as two roasters to be used for banquets and school activities. They also presented the class composite, which featured pictures of each graduate and sketches representing their talents and skills.
The class recognized their parents and other special loved ones and supporters, presenting the class flower, the blush rose, during the parent appreciation portion of the ceremony. That was followed by a look back at their lives through a slide show presentation.
Before presenting their diplomas, Superintendent and high school principal Darcy Garretson spoke to the graduates about the growth that they have displayed in their years at Haxtun Schools.
"Your class is a group of strong individuals," she said.
She asked them to stand and face the audience, and acknowledge the support that had helped them achieve their goal of graduating from high school.
She declared that each of the 17 students had met the requirements for graduation, then called each one to the stage to receive their diploma.
Following a recessional to the class song, "Friends We Won't Forget" by Lee Brice, the graduates formed a receiving line outside to greet their friends, family and neighbors and say a final farewell to their high school careers.
The Haxtun High School Class of 2013 is: Izaak Morgan Brown, Katlin Ann Davis, Courtny Jo Dickerson, Brady Paul Edwards, Elizabeth Linnea Hadeen, Brady Jo Heinz, Elliott Dale Krogmeier, Brittney Nicole Mahnke, Blake Valentine Mari, Ryan Michael Nelson, Kyra Cheyenne Marie Ness, Kenneth Kyle Pierce, Weston Michael Salyards, Garrett David Shafer, Dora Jeannet Trajo, Matthew Joshua Wilcox and Taylor Lee Wilson.
Contact Journal-Advocate managing editorSara Waite at 970-526-9310 or firstname.lastname@example.org