Scott Swanson
On a picturesque summer-like evening, Sweet Home High School’s Class of 2014 departed into the sunset.
The 145 graduates heard from classmates and three departing teachers, who challenged them to make wise choices, be individuals who love what they do and who do it well, and show regard for others. After a wavering start on the school’s alma mater, they finished strong and marched out.
The graduates and faculty paraded in to strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” performed by the high school band.
Following an introductory welcome from Chace Hutchins, a member of the Senior Class Board of Directors, and a performance of the national anthem by the band. Valedictorian Amanda Hubbard, one of five this year, urged her fellow graduates to keep learning and to “remember, people matter.”
“Knowledge improves your quality of life. You can actually master preparing grilled chicken Florentine from scratch instead of eating another serving of Kraft macaroni and cheese from a box.
“Commit yourself to constant self-improvement. Be a life-long learner.”
Hubbard urged the graduates to “hang out with people who have healthy habits so their influence will be positive in your life.”
Valedictorians Katie Virtue and Emily Marchbanks provided some humorous recognition of “some of our most cherished and beloved teachers, the people who loved high school so much that they came back to spend their lives working there,” as Virtue put it.
They included Chris Hiassen as Most Improved: “Freshman year, she shaved her head for charity and, thankfully, her hair has grown, just like she’s helped us grow; ” Most Inspirational Eileen McHill “for showing us that not every cat lady is crazy,” Best Newcomer Joanne Wiitala for her “outstanding teaching abilities,” Sweet “Hooome” Athletic Director Steve Brown and “mayath” teachers Melissa Klumph and Ann Knight, along with Steve Thorpe.
“We know our class has been a tall order to deal with and it must have been quite a stretch for you to put up with us,” Marchbanks said. “Thank you for all you’ve done, not only teaching, but coaching as well.”
Their list included classified staff members Peggy Emmert, Kendra McAslin, Jolee Stafford and ____ Rolph, who handle most of the day-to-day office responsibilites that affect students.
They also thanked “Senior Citizen Award Winners” Billy Snow and Cheryl Munts, who are retiring after 30 and 31 years, respectively, teaching science at the high school.
“You have been amazing and inspirational,” Virtue said. “Your legacy leaves very large shoes to fill, especially if they’re running shoes.”
Valedictorian Michael Tolle, one of five, and Salutatorian Stephen Bishop, who finished their senior year by leading the school’s golf team to its highest state placement in history, finished off the opening speeches with a discourse on Husky Pride.
“We’ve gone to this school and have shown up for the past four years,” Tolle said, to which Bishop added, “well, most of us, anyways” – a reference to the graduating class’s reputation for having an inordinate number of absences.
Tolle said that one “great quality” about the class that stood out was its “strong sense of school spirit.”
“Beyond all the implemented themes of Husky Pride shirts, posters and assemblies lies a student body that truly comes together to form a strong sense of unity. This is Husky Pride.”
They recounted how this year’s boys basketball team started the season with a miserable string of close losses that extended nearly halfway into the league schedule.
“Let’s just say, at the beginning of the season there was no chance of the fans losing their voices,” Bishop said.
The turning point, he said, was a home game against Junction City that drew “the biggest student turnout in years” and resulted in the Huskies’ first win since the beginning of the season.
“From that point on, our Husky Pride was firmly established,” Bishop said.
The student section was “packed” with school colors and “creative cheers” as the team won its next seven games and made the playoffs, shocking favored Gladstone with a 27-point victory that was witnessed by a rooter bus full of students who made the trip to Portland.
“This is Husky Pride,” Tolle said.
“Inevitably, we will all choose a different path of life to pursue,” he said. “No matter how different our futures will be, there is one thing our pack will have in common: This is Husky Pride.”
Teacher Luke Augsburger, who is leaving the high school to become principal at Foster School (see page 12), delivered the commencement address, urging graduates to find careers “you are passionate about” and “always to stay positive.”
He told of his own transition to college, how he flunked a math midterm and thought the world had come to an end.
“I was, for a moment, a failure.” During a panicked phone call, his grandmother gave him some advice, he recalled. “I still remember what she said to this day. ‘It’s only one test,’ she said. ‘You can just take the class again if you fail.’”
Augsburger said he “attacked the class with renewed energy and spent an hour a night for the rest of the term doing the suggested problems for homework – a novel idea, I know. I got a B in the course.
“Don’t ever forget that, to be successful, sometimes we have to fail. Some of the best lessons I learned in life come from times that I have failed and continued to fight.”
He also challenged the students to “spend your time worrying about how you treat other people. Be a positive, honest person. Worry about what you learn in a class, not the grade you get. Worry about doing your job to the best of your ability and getting it right, and your happiness will outweigh your fortune.”
He also told students to be themselves.
“Measure your success by your own definition, not by mine, not by your parents’ and definitely not by your friends’ definition.
“We have taught you to have a voice. Use that inner voice as a compass to help you along the way.”
Munts and Snow delivered closing remarks, echoed some of the earlier advice, urging students to make “good choices” on the road of life, as Munts put it. “You hae reached a crossroads, as have we,” she said. “It is now time for a different road. So choose roads that will not only get you where you want to go, but how you want to go there.”
Snow reiterated one of his “favorite sayings – What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.
“Be willing to make those tough, but right, choices. Go out of your way to make a difference for those around you.”
Supt. Don Schrader introduced School Board Chairman Jason Redick and members Jenny Daniels, Leena Ellis, Chanz Keeney, Mike Reynolds, Dave VanDerlip and Jason Van Eck.
Also during the program, the band performed “Air for Band,” featuring seniors Bishop on trumpet, Dylan Eddings on tenor saxophone, Brett Humphries on baritone, Nick Mattson on horn, Sarah Ray on flute and Sean Steinborn on baritone.
Symphonic Choir seniors Bishop, James Brown, Catherine Cheshire, Molley Dadey, Hutchins, David Johnson, MAry Lingenfelter, Sarah Lowe, Nick Mattson, Michael Moser, Mami Sakamoto, Tanna Storkson, Faith Swaney, Austin Valloni, Taylor Webb, Christian Williams and Ian Wingo, performed “Working for the Dawn of Peace.”
Closing remarks were delivered by Auna Davis and Racheal Miller of the Senior Class Board of Directors. They thanked Snow and Munts for their service over the years, and their class advisors, Pat Davis and Laurie Almeida, as well as other students and parents.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without you,” Miller said.
They also delivered some of their own parting advice to their classmates: “Just live, make mistakes, have wonderful memories, but never second guess who you are, where you have been and, most importantly, where it is you’re going.”