The cold rain falling outside didn’t dampen the spirit inside the Ketcham Community Center as 87 members of the Trenton High School Class of 2011 received their diplomas Sunday afternoon.
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Hannah Griffin, daughter of Dwight and Lynn Griffin, was the class valedictorian, while Amber Fischbach, daughter of Dr. Dan and Joan Fischbach, was the salutatorian. Both addressed the class, with Miss Griffin calling the prospect of graduation “surreal and frankly, a little scary.”
“The Trenton R-9 School District is all I have known for 13 years and it’s hard to believe that I will never again have to write another lengthy comp paper for Ms. Small, create some extravagant excuse as to why we deserve a work day in Ms. Hale’s upper-level math classes or abruptly exit the room during Mrs. Gilham’s anatomy and physiology class when the stench of the body part we are dissecting is too much for me to handle,” she said.
She humorously reflected on some of the “regrets” she and her classmates might have, which brought laughter from her fellow graduates, but reminded them to not let the past dictate the future.
“Author Mary Ann Radmacher once wrote ‘Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.’ Life’s journey will bring many challenges. It is your job as individuals to refuse to allow the past to decide your future for you. Don’t let past disappointments hold you back. If things go wrong, don’t get upset. Look for joy in life’s challenges and risks, even though that’s not always the easiest thing to do.”
Miss Fischbach said graduation is a symbol of the students’ dedication, effort and hard work, but that much of what has been gained in the past four years was not learned in the classroom.
“What we have learned in high school cannot be shown by our test scores, our achievements cannot be seen on our transcripts or summed up by our GPAs and what we have gained is not only a diploma,” she said. “It’s not what we have done during the seven periods in each school day or during the beloved ‘pride time,’ but the four minutes between classes, the 20-minute lunch periods and the hours of before and after school meetings, practices and games that have made us who we are.”
She remarked that the graduates are the hope for the future and are the teachers, scientists, business people and parents of tomorrow. She called the ceremony not only the conclusion of high school, but the birth of the future leaders of tomorrow. She reminded the students to look around them and understand what the past four years has really left with them.
“We may be receiving diplomas today, but look around you – at your teachers, your coaches and your classmates, and realize what you’ve truly earned for four years at Trenton High School.”
Also honored during the ceremony were the top 10 academic students. Those honored in addition to Miss Griffin and Miss Fischbach were Rebekah Capeder, Courtney Leeper, Jessica Davis, Samantha Hudson, Lindsey Derry, Kristyn Keith, Chelsea McCollum and Derek Arbuckle. Lana Beverlin, retiring art instructor at THS, was also honored by the class as having a big impact on them during their high school careers.
The THS Show Choir, “Gold Rush” performed “It’s Hard to Say Goodbye” under the direction of Matthew Remus and the THS Band performed the prelude, the National Anthem, the Alma Mater and the recessional under the direction of Tim Gilham.