Graduation Ceremony
Eighty-eight seniors of the Bonners Ferry High School Class of 2016 graduated in a sun-filled ceremony at the high school football field on Saturday, June 4.
The event, attended by hundreds of relatives, family, friends, and community members, featured music from the Bonners Ferry High School Symphonic Band, and a performance of the National Anthem by a duet of graduating seniors Christopher McCulla and Erica Wood. High School Principal Tim Gering conducted the ceremony. The Graduation Ceremony included remarks from Senior Class President Lauren Wages, and guest speakers Kevin Dinning and Josh Knaggs, along with remarks from the six valedictorians of the Class of 2016: Erica Wood, Jordan Burt, Vince Bennett, Zach Dennis, Tanner Liermann, and Kerstin Oxford.
Class President Lauren Wages expressed gratitude for all who have helped the graduates arrive at where
they are today, saying that anyone in
attendance at graduation likely played an
important part in the lives of one or more of
the graduates. "Thank you for everything," she
said, "for making the cookies for our third
grade Christmas party, for filling the football
stadium on Friday nights. Thank you, parents,
teachers, families, and community members for
donating your time, your efforts, and your love,
for making sure that each one of us got to this
point today."She also expressed gratitude for living in this part of the world: "I think of Bonners and how thankful I am that this little place brought us all together. Whether you've lived here for one year or eighteen years, this beautiful tiny town has had a part in shaping our lives."
Guest Speaker Kevin Dinning, who also happened to be a guest speaker at this class' Eighth Grade
Promotion four years ago, reminded the
class that many of the things he said to them
back then still apply today. He pointed out to
the class that if you have something to tell
someone, "If it's important, and you need to
tell someone, it's important enough to tell them
to their face, and definitely not text them."He continued with additional advice: "If you buy jeans, buy them without holes. I challenge all of you to earn the holes in your jeans. "
He also counseled "Speak to your grandparents, because not everybody has them anymore, and they are the most knowledgeable people that you know."
Mr. Dinning will be the principal of Bonners Ferry High School next school year, as current principal Mr. Gering will be moving with his family to the Lewiston area.
Guest Speaker Josh Knaggs, the art teacher at the high school, serves as the faculty advisor for the Class of 2016. He reminded them he had told them he would not shave his beard until their class graduated. And yes, he had a long beard. As he made each point in his talk, he cut away another part of his beard, resulting in his beard being fully trimmed by the end of his remarks.
"In the past four years I have learned much about myself, life, this community, and all of you," said Mr. Knaggs. "Some say change is the only constant thing in life. Change will find you. It might happen tomorrow, it could happen today. It could happen years down the road, it might happen without you even noticing it. However it comes, there is no avoiding it, and the only choice you have is to grow."
Other points made by Mr. Knaggs included counsel to recognize that you don't always get to be what you want to be, and to develop a sense of humor.
He further advised the graduates to "Say I love you as often as you can. Say it even though you don't want to. Tell loved ones in your life that they mean a great deal to you, as often as you can."
And finally from Mr. Knaggs: "Keep your word, it is your bond."
The final speakers of the day were the six class valedictorians. Valedictorians Erica Wood and Jordan Burt spoke of the graduates going through their school years and now graduating, realizing along the way that there were many things they did not know, and many things they had to learn as they progressed through the years of high school. "It's a miracle we made it this far," said Erica Wood.
Jordan Burt continued, saying that as the class members now go out into the world, there are still a lot of things they don't know. "We don't know what taxes are. We don't know how we're going to pay bills. We don't know if we will get married, or if we'll have kids. We don't know who will have success, and who will have failures. My guess would be that each of us, at some point in our lives, will have both.
"The list of things we do not know could go on forever," she continued. "However, there's one important thing we do know, or rather we need to know. And that is that no matter how old we get, no matter what level of education we reach, no matter what career we pursue, and no matter where in the world we end up, we are never too old to stop learning.
"There will always be an unknown in everything we do, and there will always be someone who has been through it before. Listen to that someone, and learn from them, so that someday, you can be that someone for the younger generation."
Valedictorians Vince Bennett and Zach Dennis quoted lines from favorite movie characters that provided wisdom for the class. "Today is the day we start our own lives, and take our own actions, and begin our
own ways," said Vince Bennett.
Zach Dennis added that movies might be a great source of advice, but one may not want to spend an entire life watching movies. "That would be very counter-productive," he said.
Valedictorians Tanner Liermann and Kerstin Oxford concluded the valedictory addresses with encouragement for the class. "As we leave these high school years behind, and enter the real world," said Kerstin Oxford, "remember that you have accomplished a twelve-year journey. You have been motivated, and you haven't backed down, you have persevered."
"Work your hardest, be the best that you can be, and you will be rewarded," said Tanner Liermann.
Kerstin Oxford continued, "Don't get so busy working and planning for the future that you forget to live. Make sure to take time to do the little things, and love. Your kids won't want to hear about how much you studied in college, or how you've never done anything but work. They will want to hear about some real-world experiences you have had, or the times you've made a mistake and learned."
Following the addresses, the names of the 88 graduates were called one by one, and each crossed from the rows of chairs lined up for them on the Badger track, to the head of the assembly where they received their high school diplomas. As each walked this route, the announcers listed the future plans of each graduate. These included students whose plans were to enter the workforce, enlist in the military, continue on to college or to technical school, to leave on church missions, and other plans and goals.
The Top Ten of the Class of 2016 included eleven students:
• Vince Bennett
• Gabrielle Blackmore
• Jordan Burt
• Abby Davis
• Zachary Dennis
• Caleb Gering
• Tanner Liermann-Kress
• Margaret McCoy
• Kerstin Oxford
• Lauren Wages
• Erica Wood
The Class graduated 24 members of the National Honor Society:
• Louis Balcaen
• Sarah Beck
• Vince Bennett
• Caleb Blackmore
• Jordan Burt
• Abby Davis
• Zachary Dennis
• Shaleyna Higins
• Jacob Lewis
• Tanner Liermann-Kress
• Veronica MacDonald
• Margaret McCoy
• Colton Moore
• Kerstin Oxford
• Alaina Rushing
• Samantha Schneider
• Kayliana Simmons
• Alva Swanson
• Amanda Swindoll
• Jeremiah Varelman
• Lauren Wages
• Erica Wood
• Ciera Woods
• Aaliyah Zarate
Students graduating with Honors Diplomas were:
• Louis Balcaen
• Evan Ellis
• Shaleyna Higgins
• Paige Liermann
• Talia Liermann-Kress
• Veronica MacDonald
• Christopher McCulla
• Derek Reynolds
• Andrea Rogers
• Samantha Schneider
• Malorie Stippich
• Alva Swanson
• Amanda Swindoll
• Jack Wade
• Aaliyah Zarate
Class of 2016 graduates with High Honors Diplomas were:
• Vince Bennett
• Gabrielle Blackmore
• Jordan Burt
• Abby Davis
• Zachary Dennis
• Caleb Gering
• Tanner Liermann-Kress
• Margarret McCoy
• Colton Moore
• Kerstin Oxford
• Alaina Rushing
• Kayliana Simmons
• Jeremiah Varelman
• Lauren Wages
• Erica Wood
• Ciera Woods
A taped replay of the Graduation Ceremony of the Class of 2016, prepared and posted by Boundary County Live, can be viewed online by clicking on this link.
Congratulations, Bonners Ferry High School Class of 2016!