The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

As one door closes, the next one opens; that’s part of the message High School Principal Alan Nall gave the graduating Class of 2021 during Haxtun High School’s commencement ceremonies Sunday afternoon. “Even though you are all graduating from the same school on the same day, the chapter that you finish today for each of you has very different content.”

Nall went on to tell the 19 graduates, seated in front of family and friends wearing red and black gowns, that it has been the community’s honor to follow along on this part of the journey.

Some, he said, have passages about participation in sports and clubs; others can write about having after school jobs. “Through those opportunities you have gained knowledge and skills that will help you be successful for the rest of your life,” Nall said.

Graduates entered the Haxtun gymnasium to the traditional pomp and circumstance and took their seat at center stage as Class President Ryan Tempel welcomed friends, family and community members. Tempel also served as the class Salutatorian.

“In case it hasn’t hit you yet, today is the day,” Tempel told his classmates from the podium on stage. “We’ve just surpassed one of the first big milestones in our lives and we’ve all done it together. From here on out, we start our lives doing what we want to do.”

Tempel went on to thank coaches for shaping him into a better person and faculty members for teaching the important things in life. In closing, Tempel told his peers,” It’s been a quick four years for all of us and I’m happy that I got to spend it with the people that have made my life better.”

Following presentation of the class gift and debuting the composite, class members, family and friends watched as the lights dimmed and music played while photos of each graduate’s lives up until this point flashed across the screen in the usual slideshow presentation.

Class Valedictorian Katie Swan addressed her classmates and the crowd following the slideshow. “Looking out at all of you, I realize how blessed I am to have grown up in a small town community,” she said. “I am not a number or just another face in the crowd. Just as the many previous students who have passed through the halls of this school, I am also known and cared about. This town, this community, this school, has supported us through everything it has taken for us to get here today.”

In her time with the microphone, Swan encouraged fellow graduates to live life without regrets and to not let special moments pass by. “Those special minutes and hours and days will remain with you for the rest of your life,” she said. “It is easy to be stuck in both the past and in the future and ignore the present, but the future is only the present to come and the past is the only present gone by. If you forget to stop and look around, you’re left with little of either.”

Each graduate then stood, collected white tulips and honored parents, family and special guests while the song “Somewhere over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole played in the background.

After wiping tears and sharing smiles, graduates returned to their seats for the presentation of diplomas. “I join with all your supporters in wishing you all the success possible,” Nall told the Class of 2021. “You entered high school strong of will and strong of personality. Today, you leave here the same. We wouldn’t want it to be any other way.”

As the 111th graduating class of Haxtun High School, each of the 19 graduates walked across the stage, received their diplomas and turned their tassels on the next chapter in life.