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WHS

WAITSBURG - It may seem ironic that Waitsburg Valedictorian Austin Beasley chose a quote from a famous high school dropout to inspire his fellow high school graduates.

But the saying from Mc- Donalds fast food chain founder Ray Kroc was on message when it comes to being successful in life.

Where there is no risk, there can be no pride in achievement, Beasley quoted Kroc as saying. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor.

The Valedictorian's theme was clear.

Taking risks and making mistakes is a part of our lives, and as much as we hate them, they're what shape who we are and make us successful, he told the other 29 graduates of the WHS Class of 2011 Friday night.

Kison Court was filled with relatives, teachers and members of the community for the school's 115th graduation ceremony that sent off a group of Cardinals who contributed to one of the most impressive years in sports and academics.

Combined with his scholarly scoreboard, Beasley's own anecdotal history of youthful mistakes, from which she shared generously with his audience, underscored his dictum.

The son of Pam and Ken Beasley was selected as the Legislative District #16's 2011 Washington Scholar, a distinction that used to come with significant financial support before state budget cuts.

But Beasley (3.97 GPA), who plans to attend Washington State University, still topped the list of Cardinals receiving scholarships with $34,000 in academic support over four years. He was followed by Tre Hazelbaker (Brannock), who will attend Concordia University of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and received $12,000 in scholarships, and Christy Poirier, who received almost $11,000 in scholarships but has deferred her entry into Washington State University to become an FFA Sentinel for a year.

Salutatorian Alyssa Hafen (3.96 GPA), who plans to attend Walla Walla Community College, received more than $7,500 in scholarship support for her higher education goals.

Beasley, Hafen, Poirier and Hazelbaker were recognized along with classmates Nick Carpenter ($6,600 in scholarships), Tim Hofer ($2,000 in scholarships), John Montgomery, Dru Somers and Megan Withers ($750 in scholarships) for being members of the National Honor Society.

Those nine students and Rachel Reedy, Eric Lienhard, Taylor Moon, Jeneffer Lyden, Kasmira Grende, Genesis Pearson and Casey Cates wore the gold chords of Honor Graduates as well, Principal Stephanie Wooderchak said.

Beasley, Poirier and Trevor Van Drew received special recognition for their outstanding participation in the Waitsburg FFA Chapter.

Van Drew and classmate Justin Armstrong, who will both be joining the Armed Services, were introduced along their recruiters. This year's U.S. Army Reserves Spirit Of Victory National Scholar/Athlete Award went to Hafen and Hofer. The PEO Citizenship Award went to Pearson, while the new Times Community Service scholarship went to Poirier (see story on page 2).

With many of the graduates having known each other since Kindergarten, the class of 2011 faced obstacles together that only made them grow closer, Hafen said in her speech.

I'm so proud to know every single person in this class, she said. High school has been by far the best years of our lives.

Hafen had a special thanks to Roseann Groom for her management of the class senior year.

Thank you for pushing us, Hafen told Groom. You're the reason each and every one of us is graduating.

Hafen was followed by Hofer as faculty speaker and Poirier as class speaker. Citing Oprah Winfrey to the delight of the crowd, Poirier told her fellow classmates there is no guidebook for post-high school life.

Don't be afraid to start up your mountain, she said to the group that chose Lao Tzus famous phrase a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a first step as their motto.

If you fall, get back up, Poirier said. As Oprah says: You have to know what sparks the light in you.

DHS

DAYTON - When Valedictorian Molly Payne began the research for her keynote graduation speech in the Internet, she discovered there was little there to inspire her.

I eventually ended up watching speeches on You- Tube, but as I clicked from video to video, I realized that none of the speeches would work, she told the Dayton High School gym full of classmates, relatives, teachers and scholarship donors.

In an annual Saturday afternoon ritual that is as well known for its lengthy (and generous) scholarship awards ceremony as for the close of dozens of high school careers, 41 seniors from Dayton High School were released into the world in an emotional sendoff this weekend.

Speaking for her robed classmates, Payne articulated what it feels like to have Dayton's hand in her back.

None of the speakers on the web, she found, were from towns a painful 30 miles away from the nearest Taco Bell, or are halted at the one red light down Main Street.

Whether we are thrilled at the prospect of leaving this town, or crushed at the thought of saying goodbye, we have been given a unique perspective of the world because we have lived in Dayton, she said. This place has taught us how to form bonds with classmates and how to appreciate our neighbors.

Salutatorian Victoria House echoed that sentiment in her address.

There may have been dramatic events through the years, but when the need was there, I've never seen a group of people be so close and supportive of one another, she told the audience.

She recalled one time in particular, after her class learned that classmates John Smith and Kyle Hayes had been killed in a boating accident.

Even through our differences, I can think of a particular time that our class was so incredible close, nothing would have separated us, House said. I know we have moved on, but there are two people missing from these rows of soon-to-be graduates, who should be here sharing this day with us.

The Dayton High School choir marked the loss with a bittersweet rendition of Sarah MacLachlan's I Will Remember You, followed by You'll Be In My Heart performed by the high school band.

But House encouraged her fellow seniors not to dwell on the sadness of their loss.

I feel that we need to remember them on this day, but not mourn their death - rather celebrate their lives.

House went out of her way to thank the class teachers, parents and grandparents for getting everyone to this point.

I know from personal experience that my family has given me a ton of support and care, especially this past year, to drive on through the end, she said.

Then she went on to call on the graduates to embrace their futures and celebrate what they've achieved so far.

In his first graduation ceremony as Dayton High School principal, Andy Maheras noted 14 members of the class of 2011 graduated with honors: Taylor Brown, Jaron Button, Taylor DeRuwe, Briana Fulbright, Christian Garcia, Kyla Ihle, Madeline Jensen, Claire Lyman, David Phillips, Janalyn Rickords, Caylyn Rolph-Tate, Jennifer Stephens, Jacob Waggoner and Jacob Weeden.

Button, Fulbright, Ihle, Lyman, Phillips, Rickords, Rolph-Tate, Stephens and Weeden were also recognized as members of the National Honor Society.

Before they were officially called forward and handed their diplomas by school board president Steve Martin, Bulldogs received 137 scholarships worth nearly a quarter million dollars.

The scholarship ceremony included two new awards this year: the Steve Edwards Memorial Scholarship, which went to theater devotee Kyla Ihle, and the Times Community Service Scholarship, which went to Fulbright and Rowene Huwe, who both grew up with special needs