County’s graduates sent on their way

    A combined 53 graduates from Chase County Schools and Wauneta-Palisade were sent on to their next endeavors at Saturday commencement ceremonies.
    After 16 members of the WP Class of 2023 received recognition at a morning ceremony, 37 took part in commencement at CCS in the afternoon.
    At both, speakers acknowledged the support of their families and communities, sending the graduates out into the world.
    At the CCS ceremony, Valedictorian Colin O’Neil told his fellow Class of 2023 he learned three lessons from them:
    #1 Everyone is unique and it’s their uniqueness that makes them awesome.
    #2 Success is hard but so is anything great. O’Neil noted the class average GPA of 3.56 along with their athletic, speech and FFA accomplishments.
    #3 Tough times are made better by the support of great people. He said 2022 was a tough year for the class, as they lost classmates, friends and “beloved members of our school.”
    But O’Neil said there is one “big lesson” he learned from his classmates: “It is the endgame that everyone remembers but it is the process that got you there that you remember.”
    He added, “Enjoy the process and reap the benefits of seeing it through.”
    Salutatorian Kade Anderson, who began his address taking a photo of the class from the stage, also thanked family, friends, teachers, faculty and the community for the support.
    “It is all thanks to you that we as a class get to be here today,” he said.
    Anderson noted along with the joy of graduation also came some sadness.
    “Despite how excited I am to be done, I think we all must confess that we wish we weren’t leaving just yet,” he said.
    “Just thinking about the countless memories we’ve all made makes me sad this time of our lives has quickly come to a close,” he said.
    In closing, he added he has no doubts his classmates will have success in the future.
    High School Principal Chris Barr, in his first year at CCS, also noted the support the class received.
    He asked the graduates to give a round of applause to their parents and support systems.
    “I will miss the talks and conversations we’ve had,” he said.
    In his presentation of the class, Supt. Adam Lambert cited the song “Fear is a Liar” by Zach Williams.
    He asked the class to recall some of their fears of the past including first day of kindergarten, whether they’d make friends or not pass a class.
    “Or that school would never end,” he smiled.
    Noting they made it through all of that, he encouraged the graduates to “dream big and go after your goals” and do it fearlessly.
    Both the opening and closing remarks by Madelynn Hanes, Kayla Chavira and Aliana McNair were read in both English and Spanish.
    This year’s ceremony featured a new stage without stairs purchased earlier this year by the board of education.
WP ceremonies
    Guest speaker at the 30-minute WP ceremony was 1986 Wauneta graduate Michelle Harchelroad.
    Harchelroad encouraged this year’s 16 graduates to find something they are passionate about.
    “College isn’t for everyone. Find something you love and do it well,” she said.
    Valedictorian Chloe Stenho and Salutatorian Peyton Vrbas both told younger students to enjoy their time at WP because the years go fast.