Congratulations to Libby and Troy graduates
The crowd reacts as graduates enter the gym. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Guest speaker and English teacher at Libby High School Mrs. Sarah Barrack, instructs the graduating class on folding a paper airplane, using it as an analogy for life. The airplanes were thrown by the class of 2017 along with their caps after they had officially graduated. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Choir members perform at Libby’s graduation on Saturday, June 3. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Graduate Miranda Cripe is greeted outside the gym at Libby’s graduation on Saturday, June 3. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Seated from left to right: assistant principal Christina Schertel, civics and history teacher Robbie Radakovich, Jacob Francom and Craig Pierce listen to salutatorian Molly Walters speak. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Co-valedictorian Colin Maloney, seated far left, listens to his fellow valedictorian Niklaus Gier speak along with salutatorian Bridger Herreid seated in center and Class of 2017 president Niklaus Neuman, seated on the right. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Assistant principal Jim Germany congratulates senior Crystal McCoy as Madisen Monigold embraces salutatorian Bridger Herreid in the background. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Music teacher Sheri Schweitzer leads the band in the “The Star Spangled Banner” as Troy seniors reflect. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Valedictorian Sarah Pierce speaks at Troy’s graduation on Saturday, June 3. In the background, Troy High School principal Jacob Francom and Sarah’s father Craig Pierce listen. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
A common theme emerged at Libby and Troy’s graduations, both held Saturday, June 3. All of the speakers shared their struggle to find a way to reframe the bittersweet initiation of graduation, a way to celebrate something that is both an end and a highly anticipated, unknown beginning.
Libby’s co-valedictorian Colin Maloney alluded to the bitter and the sweet when he said in his speech: “This is a day that could not have come soon enough for me, but for my mom, I think it’s safe to say that she has been dreading it.” Fellow valedictorian Nikolaus Gier spoke of the class of 2017 being the last high schoolers born in the 1990s and overthrew a few assumptions about millennials, noting that his class, far from being the entitled, self-absorbed millennial stereotype, showed their character by being hard working and focused.
Guest speaker Sarah Barrick, who teaches English at Libby High School and was valedictorian of her class in Libby in 1982, encouraged the graduates to “never stop learning” and to “work to achieve balance in your lives, which will lead to peace, success, health and happiness.”
After the junior high band, led by music teacher Brenda Nagode, played a rousing welcome as the 91 graduates filed into the gym two by two, the choir entertained between speeches.
Troy’s graduation was held on the football field in the early evening and a stiff breeze did not deter the crowds who gathered to send off 28 seniors.
While valedictorian Sarah Pierce thanked the support system available to each senior through the school, including teachers and administration, and acknowledged the input of family, she was adamant that the graduates know that “you did this.”
“You were the one who decided to show up and complete your work and you were the one who pledged to graduate and did it,” she said.
Avid band member and salutatorian Molly Walters noted how difficult it was to talk about the cliches of graduating without sounding like a pop song. She profusely thanked her “band family” for “each of you brought something socially, as you did musically, that could not be replaced and I noticed if any one of you was missing.”
Music teacher Sheri Schweitzer, who led the band and choir for graduation entertainment, wiped away tears as Walters expressed her gratitude for the music program and Schweitzer’s efforts.
History and civics teacher Robbie Radakovich gave the keynote speech and joked about his relative youth.
“I graduated exactly 10 years ago, and many of you might be thinking, ‘What does this guy who looks like my son have to say? What kind of wisdom can he offer?’” he asked.
Radakovich continued: ”This may sound simple, but follow your happiness. Do what makes you happy every day, and it won’t be the same as anybody else’s idea of happiness, but life is too short to not do some of what makes you happy every day.”