News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
People in the audience take photos of the graduating class of 2023 during Saturday's ceremony in the gym at Lake Roosevelt High School. - Scott Hunter photo
Forty students graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School Saturday as the class of 2023 gathered for that last time - on the stage at the gym in gown and cap.
Much about the speeches echoed those sentiments that rightly drip from every high school graduation - "the last time," "the next chapter," and so forth. But the tone, the affection, the familiarity - as in, family-like - seemed something more.
"The friendships that we have made over the years have shaped us into the young men and women that we are today, and some of them will last us a lifetime," Valedictorian Brit Egbert said.
"I want to remind you all that we are capable of achieving anything we set our minds to," he said. "My dad used to tell me that whatever your passion may be, you need to give it your all, give 110%, whatever it is you're doing," Egbert said, recalling the advice of his late father, Bubba Egbert, whose unexpected death in early May shook the small school community.
"He also instilled in me ... to always be the best person you can be," Brit continued. "I think if we follow his advice and try to be the best at whatever endeavors we're trying to accomplish, the sky's the limit for us."
Salutatorian Aaliyah Cheeney was supposed to graduate a year later with the class of 2024, but she "put in the work" to get done early, she said, noting that work is not foreign to those in the class of 2023, "one hard working group."
"Throughout the last year," she said, "I watched many of these people put so much time and effort into their future ... I can say for certain they will go on to important things, whether that be to change the world for the better or just do something that makes them happy."
As a freshman, Cheeney had planned to rush through school to college as fast as she could, taking running start classes.
"But these past two years have shown me I don't need to rush life. I can enjoy where I am at the moment. Me graduating early may seem like a contradiction to that, but I plan on taking this next year slowly and enjoy what life has to offer. I hope all of you can do that too."
Chosen class speakers Jaelyn Cleveland and Justin BlueEyes kept it short, but also managed to slip in a little reflection, even wisdom.
"I'm glad to say we've made it, growing up together" Cleveland said.
"I won't keep you folks here too long," BlueEyes said, admittedly winging it, "because I'm sure you guys want to see your kids, now adults - crazy."
Below is a list of the class awards and accomplishments, as announced by Dean of Students Casey Brewster.
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