Indus Staff Report
In a commencement ceremony that reflected the uniqueness of their class, nine Indus School seniors graduated Friday in the school gymnasium before an audience of family, friends, and school staff.
Wearing the class colors of blue and silver, and carrying blue tiger lilies, graduates marched in to “Pomp and Circumstance” and were greeted with opening comments by The Rev. Rosanna Walker, who had been invited by the class. Flowers were presented to family members by seniors, with the strains of the class song, “Here’s to the Night,” by Eve 6, playing in the background.
Two teachers were invited to speak at the ceremony: English teacher Wade Sutton and social studies teacher Corinne Anderson. Both congratulated the students on their achievements and provided admonitions for the future.
Later in the program, salutatorian Ginger Freden Bahr and valedictorian Gary Hultman spoke to their class about experiences they had shared as a class and wished class members future success. Hultman also sang the song, “When You Come Back Down” by Nickel Creek, as part of his presentation to the seniors, accompanied by members of the group, Ditchgrade.
The school band and vocal ensemble provided musical presentations during the evening, including the musical number, “Born to Be Somebody,” by Justin Bieber. A senior slide and video presentation organized by Freden Bahr was shown during the evening.
Indus Principal Bryan Brown gave special awards to students obtaining more than the minimum amount of credits required for graduation, and then spoke to the seniors briefly about his memories of each class member. Brown, along with school board member Gary Dougherty, presented diplomas to the senior class.
Scholarships totaling approximately $10,000 were presented throughout the evening to senior class members who had applied for them. Presenting the scholarships were: North Star Electric Representative Mike Hanson; Karen Anderson, Indus School administrative secretary and Indus scholarship chair; Suzanne Mathews, South Koochiching/Rainy River local vice president for Education Minnesota; Joe Fults, representing Masonic Lodge #270; and Douglas Skrief, representing the Marshall N. Knudson Fund. Anderson also announced the outstanding senior of 2012, Gary Hultman, who received the Hasbargen Memorial Award.
For more photos, pick up today's edition of The Journal.
