by Joni Astrup
Associate Editor
Graduating seniors at Zimmerman High School heard some “pearls of wisdom” before collecting their diplomas Wednesday night.
Valedictorian Danielle Johnson with her speech “Pearls of Wisdom.” Photos by Erik Jacobsen
Valedictorian Danielle Johnson talked about three tired cliches that still bear repeating. They are:
•Never give up: “This is essentially the root to achieving any goal,” Johnson said.
•Just be yourself: Keep being individuals doing what you love, she told the graduates.
•Follow your dreams: “You do not want to achieve success only to realize that it’s not what you want — that it is someone else’s fairy-tale ending,” Johnson said. Pursue a goal that you are passionate about, she advised.
Graduating senior Parker Sturlaugson also spoke. He talked about challenges people face every day, and people have two choices: accept or decline, he said.
Parker Sturlaugson entertained the graduates with a speech called “Challenge Accepted.”
It’s important that graduates continue to challenge themselves to become better and stronger people, he said.
“As we move on from high school, we must not be afraid to accept the challenges life should happen to throw our way,” he said.
District 728 Superintendent Mark Bezek talked about the power of choices, and he passed along three thoughts. He told graduates to not waste their time but instead to make the most of every day, to take pride in everything they do and to stay close to parents, family and faith — a support system that will get them through the tough times and help them celebrate future accomplishments.
Graduates also heard from Lori Olson, who was asked by the senior class to represent the school staff at commencement. She told the graduates they mean more to her than words can say.
She encouraged them to celebrate all of their experiences, even adversity, as gifts. While difficulties may not feel much like gifts, she said, the resulting resilience, perseverance and strength gained through adversity may prove invaluable at some point in the future.
She also hopes the graduates continue to find ways to be great by serving.
“May you find ways to leave your heart with others,” Olson told them.
She quoted Winston Churchill, who said: “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
Lori Olson, staff representative, titled her speech “Gifts … and Giving.”
Dennis Warner sang his song “Beads On One String.”
A special guest at the graduation was musician Dennis Warner, who had made a connection with the class years earlier. He played guitar and sang “Beads On One String.”
The high school band and choir also performed. One of the choir’s numbers was Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.”
Assistant Principal Kurran Sagan presented the Class of 2015, made up of 132 graduating seniors, and School Board Chair Jane Bunting accepted the class.
With that, the graduates — young women in light blue and young men in dark blue graduation gowns — filed across the stage to collect their diplomas.
After the last diploma was handed out, the graduates tossed their mortar boards high into the air in celebration.