The 125 graduates clad in purple shifted over their tassels at the Competition Gym on the campus of Webster City High School..

It was the 143rd annual ceremony in the land of the Lynx..

“In this journey, you may never imagine that you can change the world,” said Mandy Ross, Webster City superintendent, before handing off diplomas to the graduating class. “Yet each and every one of you will change the world in some way. You’ve already started to make some of those changes during your time at Webster City High School, with the accomplishments that you made in the fine arts, academics, athletics, student council, building and trades, or any other number of activities. As evidenced by these accomplishments, the world will be a better place because of you.”

WCHS Principal Richard Hutchinson welcomed everyone to the ceremony, before Reece Casey and Shelby Brim provided comments for their classmates, parents and the community.

“If I ask each and everyone here to describe graduation, they would all say something different,” Casey said. “To some, it comes as a relief. To others, it’s nostalgia, as we look back at the good times… Most of us are looking into the future with anticipation and perhaps apprehension. We’re on the precipice of the future.”

In her speech, Brim spoke on her final 3:13, before thanking her family, fellow classmates and little sister for sticking alongside her through those four formative years of her life.

“I want to thank all of you before me, my graduating class,” Brim said. “For showing me that we can stick together through struggles, and still have fun while doing so. … Just like my sister, I know that every underclassman at Webster City High School is just waiting for that final bell to hit 3:13.”

Ross presented the class, while WCCSD board President Beth Van Diest handed off the majority of the diplomas. When CJ Hisler came to the stage, his mother, Jama Hisler, presented him with his diploma before the two would share a mother-son hug.