A commitment by several Falls High School graduates was followed through Sunday as the students received diplomas and hurled caps into the air to celebrate achievement.
More than three years ago, the group was the first freshman class to participate in the Legacy Program, an initiative that urged the commitment of students to graduate. To show their allegiance, students signed their names on a banner which hangs in the FHS cafeteria. Many of those same names were printed on the deserving students’ diplomas Sunday.
“I want to recognize the seniors on a job well done to reach this level,” said Superintendent Nordy Nelson. “I ask that you acknowledge, recognize and thank your parents for all the efforts they’ve gone through to get you to this level … and the teachers and school employees for all they’ve done for you. We wish you the very best as you walk out this school for the last time as a student here.”
During the 2010 Legacy Program ceremony, it was emphasized that while every student has the right to receive a diploma, it must be earned and requires focus and work.
Ryan Kilbride, one of the class’ three valedictorians, recognized that realism Sunday.
“I would like to thank everyone who has helped me along the path to graduation,” he said, adding he wouldn’t be standing at the podium Sunday without the support of his parents, teachers, coaches, mentors and peers.
“I hope you all get the chance to thank those around you for all the support you’ve been given up until now,” he continued. “Be a respectful, caring person because you are a role model to someone, somewhere.”
And while most students who inscribed their names on the banner during their first official year of high school were sitting among their classmates in a sea of purple and gold Sunday, others like Corin Wenger, were not part of the program.
“I didn’t come to this school until 10th grade,” Wenger, also a class valedictorian said. “If someone would have told the ninth grade Corin that at the end of his senior year, he would have his associate’s degree, be going to the high school, have more than five friends and graduating at the top of his class, I’m not sure he would believe that.”
Wenger spoke of the challenges he faced when entering the high school and how he was unsure of how to handle himself when surrounded by so many peers and difficult classes.
“Hard work and perseverance are important even when you’re not sure where you’re going or what you’re working for,” he said. “After the first year of high school, I wanted to give up. I didn’t enjoy school, pressure, or most of the other stuff that goes along with it, but I persevered and ended up somewhere good.”
At the conclusion of Sunday’s ceremony, students followed FHS tradition and turned their class rings — the oldest class ring tradition in the United States — to allow the water to flow out of the falls in the insignia and moved the tassels on their mortar boards to signify they completed their commitment to graduate.
