PRLHS sends off seniors with memories

PRIEST RIVER – Saturday’s graduation at Priest River Lamanna High School was a touching event filled with memories and departing advice from both the administration and students.

As the ceremony began, a stream of black and orange filed into the PRLHS gym from both sides, meeting at the back of the gym in the middle to do a secret handshake or dance with another graduate before taking their seats.

When it came time for principal Matt George to give the commencement speech, he did so by pairing jokes with honesty. After thanking the teachers, district board members, and community, George spoke directly to the graduating class. From economic adversity to socioeconomic changes, the principal spoke of how much this graduating class has been through. Comparing them to the “Greatest Generation” of World War II, George sang praise for the graduating class.

“You have shown the true heart of a Spartan. You embody the qualities and values of the Spartan community of the hard work toughness, togetherness, and grit required to be successful after you walk out of these doors today,” George said.

Offering words of encouragement, George told the graduates that if they could survive his jokes and playing, they could “survive anything.”

“Remember you have survived for years of George, you can thrive through anything,” he added.

Recounting one of his favorite jokes, played on every student if possible, George said he would sing “happy birthday” over the intercom in Elmo's voice, on a student's birthday. The joke would repeat throughout the day and had been something he planned to do at graduation but he told them he decided not to as a parting gift to them

Before finishing his speech George told the senior class to “keep making a difference” as he had seen them do throughout the from including underclassmen in events to taking nicotine vapes from underclassmen.

“You have left a positive impact on the classes behind you. Your legacy will be that anyone can make a difference. You have earned my respect and the respect of the staff here,” George said.

The student speakers followed all of their speeches having titles that gave insight into the theme of each speech.

During his speech, entitled “Risky for the Bisky,” student body president Brad Sorenson told his classmates to be ready for inevitable change but to never stop taking risks. Explaining that risks like driving are taken every day without a thought, Sorenson encouraged his classmate to keep taking risks because some are rewarding.

“Do it. Just do it. Don't let your dreams be dreams. Just do it. Well, this is the end of an era. After today our lives have changed forever. Most of us may never see each other again. If you take one thing away from today, one thing from this moment, I'm asking you to keep taking risks. Don't be afraid to take the next step because who knows? Maybe the step that changes your life,” Sorenson said.

In the speech “Know the Cost of Success,” valedictorian Everett Hannah spoke of making sacrifices and the importance of weighing decisions. Giving advice for his classmates with which to move forward, Hannah said regret is “a feature of being human.”

“I intend to live a life aware of regret and also pleased at times to assist others on their own journey and worry over them to sacrifice some of my own time wellbeing to ensure that others enjoy the benefit of living in a community where people can care about one another,” Hannah said.

Looking back at her time at PRLHS, salutatorian Ona Rose gave a speech entitled “Memories.” In spite of the pandemic, teachers “coming and going,” and other challenges, Rose said the Class of 2022 stayed together through all of it.

“We got stressed about school together, laughed together, and listened to Mr. George singing happy birthday a million times together. In our time here, we've gone through three principals, and countless teachers have come and gone. But we've always supported each other,” Rose said. “Even though we missed almost a full year due to COVID we still managed to form some great bonds, some of which will be lifelong. I have to say this is probably the coolest graduating class precept prescriber has ever seen.”

While many themes were present during PRLHS graduation, the overwhelming theme became pride and care. With each speech and the senior video, memories of teachers and students bonding showed what these students were truly leaving behind.