By Victoria Pray
Moapa Valley Progress
Family and friends gathered in the Moapa Valley High School Gymnasium to celebrate the commencement of the school’s graduating class of 2019 on Saturday, May 25.
As the ceremony started the 119 candidates for graduation entered the gym to the familiar sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the MVHS band.
The eight valedictorians and one salutatorian of the class, each spent a few moments making brief remarks to their colleagues and the audience.
Valedictorian Emilie Barraza made the point that life should be about making the journeys, rather than worrying about reaching destinations.
“We are not meant to rush through life, it’s about savouring every moment of each bit,” Barraza said. “Sometimes we get so caught up in goals and aspirations, we can miss out on the beautiful landscapes along the way.”
In looking ahead to the immediate future, Valedictorian Grady Call observed that there were 8 more speakers so he would keep his remarks brief. He simply told his classmates, “Do great things, Don’t look back.” Then sat down to cheers from the audience.
Valedictorian Lainey Cornwall based her speech on a favorite quote from Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
“High school is a time where we are trying to figure out exactly who we are and what we want to be,” Cornwall said. “Being yourself helps you stand out and become unique.”
Valedictorian Gannon Hanevold quoted a rap he wrote in the third grade.
”You gotta notice the memories that forever last, you gotta be able to look back at the past, you gotta know that life goes too fast, so enjoy life and life will enjoy you back.”
He went on to talk about his classmates being his second family, and his parting words to end his speech were, “I can genuinely say that each of you made me who I am today.”
Valedictorian Gabrielle Shiozawa advised underclassmen to show up and take advantage of opportunities to experience high school. She also addressed her fellow graduates.
“The paths we are now beginning are not set in stone, we have so much growth and learning still ahead of us,” she said. “Relish in the uncertainty of the future and in the great growth ahead of us.”
Valedictorian Sierra Staheli spoke fondly of the unity of the Class of 2019. She said that much of this feeling of togetherness derives from the Moapa Valley community where they had grown up together.
“The thing that unites us is the place that we are from,” she said. “It is this great community of Moapa Valley.”
Ashlyn Western summarized what it means to have Moapa Valley as her home sweet home.
“I am from open starry night filled skies, from golden mechanical pencils and folders full of assignments. I am from late night Mcdonald’s runs and terribly edited Spanish videos, I am from flooding the football field after each game, with stadium lights being the perfect backdrop of each picture. I am from leaving the car running at the gas station, from being able to tell who’s here just by the cars in the parking lot. Remember this is the place where we worked so hard to take off from.”
Valedictorian Yadon Witsken talked about the uncertainty of life. “Plans are in motion, dates are set, but really who really knows what will come next?” he said. “Every adult I’ve encountered has said the real world isn’t really such a breeze. And a thing to remember is you get out of life what you put into it.”
Salutatorian Even Conger told encouraged his classmates to “remember who you are, where you come from and what you stand for.”
He prompted them to remember their roots, their friends, their community and how they have been shaped by these things.
MVHS principal Hal Mortensen stood and presented the class of 2019, certifying that they had accomplished all requirements to graduate.
CCSD Regional Superintendent Grant Hanevold then accepted the MVHS 2019 Class.
After the diplomas had all been presented, the students joined together in the MVHS alma mater anthem at the end of which, they threw their caps into the air in celebration.
The ceremony ended with the graduates and all of the audience joining together in a vigorous rendition of the MVHS fight song.
