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Humboldt graduates step into their futures

More than 100 receive diplomas on Sunday

Messenger photo by Bill Shea Drake Petersen gets some help with his necktie from his mother, Michelle Kraft, Sunday afternoon prior to the Humboldt High School graduation.

HUMBOLDT — The 111 members of the Humboldt High School Class of 2017 walked across a stage and into the next phase of their lives during Sunday’s commencement ceremony.

The graduates, clad in blue caps and gowns, received their diplomas in a packed gymnasium.

”We are of value and have the ability to give something valuable to the world,” Class of 2017 member Sophia Luu said to her fellow graduates and the families and friends filling the bleachers.

And fellow class member Nathan Wright wrapped up a speech loaded with jokes and one-liners with this assessment of the graduates: ”We don’t brag about all we’ve done. We talk about how we can do more.”

Early in the two-hour long ceremony, students who won various honors were recognized.

Messenger photo by Bill Shea Katheryn Curran, the president of the Class of 2017 at Humboldt High School, addresses her classmates Sunday afternoon during the school's graduation ceremony. Cassondra Peyton, the president of the Class of 2018, listens at left.

The class valedictorians, each with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, were Katheryn Curran, Ivan Rasmussen, Johnathon Wergeland, Abigail Zaugg and Luu.

The salutatorian, with a 3.987 grade-point average, was Elizabeth Duffield.

Brooke Anderson, Brenna Howard, Dillon Kirchoff and Alyssa Pflibsen were recognized for contributing at least 100 hours of community service during each of their four years at the school. Principal Lori Westhoff said collectively the four graduates contributed 1,644.5 hours of community service.

Luu and Rasmussen received the Marvyl Friesth Award as the top girl and boy in the class.

Traditionally, Humboldt High School has had two student speakers at each commencement ceremony. Luu and Wright were this year’s speakers.

Messenger photo by Bill Shea Austin Anderson, left, and Brooke Anderson, middle, lead the way as the members of the Humboldt High School Class of 2017 head to the stage to receive their diplomas.

Luu said each person in the graduating class is unique and has unique abilities that can be used to help others. The key, she said, is to find out what those abilities are and apply them.

She said the graduates can ”truly bless others by being ourselves.”

Luu invoked the memory of her mother, Melanie, who died of cancer, when talking about the need to love others. Even during her illness, her mother was devoted to the needs of her family.

”She served as one of the best examples of loving someone to pieces,” she said.

Such love and concern should extend beyond the traditional definition of family, Luu said.

”Figure out who makes up your family,” she said. ”Please love them.”

Wright adopted a lighter tone in his remarks.

He said that during his years at Humboldt High School, he ”learned the value of friends, family, education and the art of waiting to the last minute to do anything.”

Wright said everyone needs support at some point in their life.

”No matter where you end up – jail or the U.S. House of Representatives — you can’t get there alone,” he said.

He offered two specific pieces of advice to his classmates. His first tip: always use sunscreen.

His second tip?

”Always cherish all the firsts, all the lasts and all the things in between,” he said.

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