Tassels to the left

Dodson High School Graduation

Nearly 400 people met in the Dodson School Gym last Friday to congratulate six high school seniors on graduation and welcome three eighth grade students to the high school as the trio will move into high school next year.

Jenessa Talks Different, class Valedictorian, Wozek Chandler, class Salutatorian, along with Trevor Banyai, Jacina Doney, Jenessa Henry and Makayla Rameriz all received their high school diplomas on the day while Gavin Fox, Shania KillEagle and Tyler Messerly were welcomed to the ninth grade.

During the processional, former Malta High School Graduate Bobbi Knudson – who now plays professional basketball in Europe – gave the opening speech to the grads at the event.

I was lucky enough to find my passion," Knudson said. "Keep going after what you are passionate about ...I'm not perfect, I've made many mistakes in my life, but never do I look back on those circumstances and wish I could have changed them. It is always the things I look back on that I didn't do that I regret. Focus on what you are passionate about and take action to do what you love."

Valedictorian Talks Different welcomed the guests and then thanked the teachers, staff and students at Dodson High School and her parents for assisting her during her high school graduation.

"I remember being a little kid and watching everyone else graduate and saying 'I can not wait until that is me'," Talks Different said. "Now that day is here and it all happened in a blink of an eye."

Salutatorian Chandler said that attending DHS allowed her to be herself and do things she never thought she was capable of doing.

"But the dream doesn't work unless you do," Chandler said. "I know that we can all pursue our dreams in the future and DHS can help achieve that. Be proud of what we have accomplished here today."

Whitewater High School

Graduation

The 2015 graduating class of Whitewater High School was seven strong, yet that did not stop the school from needing an overflow section near the gym's entrance.

Kourtney Simonson, Kaycee Howard, Kayla Howard, Keira Simonson, Larimie Scheffelmear, Jeret Warren and Chance Love were the pride of the 2015 graduating class and based on the joy, laughter and tears shared at the ceremony, each graduate left a legacy that won't soon be forgotten.

Before the ceremony, the PCN caught up with Whitewater's class of 2015 to get their last thoughts before their walk into adulthood.

"Just get it done," Love said. "That's it. I just want to be done with it. I'm kind of nervous."

"It's kind of so surreal that it's already just finally here," Warren said. "Thirteen years have gone by pretty fast."

"I've been so anxious and ready for this day since the fifth grade," Keira said.

"I'm excited and just ready to walk off the stage," Kayla said.

"It hasn't really hit me yet," Scheffelmear said. "It probably will on the stage though. I'll be like, 'Ah there it is, this is kind of cool and then be like OH MY GOD!' And then start crying."

"Let's do it," Kayla said. "I can't wait!"

"I'm really excited and hope I don't mess up my speech," Kourtney said, who was the valedictorian for the class.

Fifteen minutes later, Kourtney, who has maintained a 4.0, thought out her high school career, was to give her speech and she did not mess up, she in fact nailed her speech despite holding back tears.

She shared memories of every one of her classmates and humbly thanked every contributor from families to Superintendent Darin Cummings, who was also the guest speaker, for influencing the Whitewater class of 2015 in a positive way.