Smiles reign for RHS graduates

The Ritzville High School graduating class was filled with brillant smiles and a sense of accomplishment Sunday during commencement.

The Class of 2012, in traditional red and black, were greeted by a capacity crowd, including many of the Lind High School graduates who received their diplomas on Saturday.

Chris Steinmetz delivered the Salutatorian address, followed by Corin Eckley’s Valedictorian speech.

Eckley’s speech and the list of awards given on Sunday follow:

“‘Together we have experienced life, separately we will pursue our dreams, but forever our memories will remain.’ This is a quote that we chose four years ago as our eighth grade promotion quote. At the time it didn’t really mean a whole lot to us, and I’m sure that many of us didn’t really have an opinion on what our eighth grade quote was. We were just excited to be moving on to the high school.

“Together we have experienced life. Throughout the last four years and even as many as the last 13 years for some kids, our class has done a lot and been through a lot together. Last week, Mrs. Schultz read a story to our class. It was the children’s book, Charlotte’s Web, but it had been illustrated by our class in second grade. Another thing that comes to mind also happened last Thursday. Our class planted flowers along with a few other projects around the school. I can definitely say that it was a bonding experience.

“Our class has really gotten closer in the last four years. For example, our freshmen year, we probably changed our homecoming skit at least four times. Just recently, we picked our motto during one class, and chose our song in about the same amount of time. Our class has learned to work together and found that even if we want different things, we can always successfully come to a compromise, even if it takes a while.

“This has not only made it easier on our teachers, I think we learned a life lesson without even realizing it.

“Separately we will pursue our dreams. Although it’s sad to think that we’ll no longer be seeing each other every day, we’ll be moving on to other things that will keep us busy. Many of us will be going to different places next year whether it’s going to college or to another kind of schooling, or going straight into job training or working. No matter what we’re going to be doing, it’s important to remember something that we were recently told. Don’t strive to do great things, do small things with great love. Each one of us can make a difference, and you don’t have to do something huge and amazing to make a chance in someone’s day. If you just smile at people in the hallway in the morning, that doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s enough to make someone feel better if they’ve had a rough morning. As we go on and join the workforce we need to remember that small things really do make a difference and start us on a path to accomplishing amazing things.

“Forever the memories will last. Even thought we’re graduating today and aren’t going to see each other every day like we have been, we’ve made memories that will last a lifetime. Sometimes when people say, ‘I’ll never forget this experience,’ it sounds corny because of course you won’t forget the big things, but we’ve made four years of memories. Some of the most memorable things just happen in everyday classes during, say, world geography or English, or even math. Then you have the big occasions like your first homecoming bonfire all the way to winning the spirit jug at homecoming this year.

“While I was looking at old speeches and researching I came across some insightful advice. I know that we’re all excited to get on with our lives but we should pursue our dreams with a passion, but take a notepad and a camera along with us. Sometimes we’re too anxious to reach our goals and don’t remember the journey of getting there after we accomplish our goal.

“As we leave here today and go on to start a new chapter in life, I think we need to thank everyone who has had a part in helping us get to where we are today. I want to thank everyone who came here to support us today and I want to thank all of our families and friends and especially our teachers. Throughout high school, they’ve prepared us for our lives after high school, wherever that might take us and though we might not always show it, we are all grateful for that.

“So ‘together we have experienced life, separately we will pursue our dreams, but forever our memories will remain.’ We weren’t aware in eighth grade that this motto would fit us so well, but as we’ve grown as a class, this quote has really become meaningful and is symbolic of our class.

“We’ve had many experiences together and it’s made us better people, we’re all going different places in our lives now, but we’re prepared for it and forever we’ll have the memories of these four years together.”

The RHS graduating class had an outstanding amount of students receive awards and scholarships for their high school achievements. Below is a list of awards and scholarships by individual student:

Bridget Banner – Recipient of the Distinguished Young Women Finalist Award.

Crystal Brooks – Recipient of the Distinguished Young Women Academic Award and the Music Achievement Award.

PJ Carter – Received the Creative Arts Award.

Brandon Chapman – Awarded the Banker’s Scholarship.

Jake Dewald – Received the Rachel & Francis Cox scholarship and the Athletic Award.

Corin Eckley – Recipient of the Milton P. Sackmann scholarship and the Seattle Pacific University Trustee’s scholarship.

Drew Hartz – Awarded the Consolidated Grange Supply scholarship, John Duggar Memorial scholarship, Milton P. Sackmann scholarship, Pat Oestreich/Gun Club scholarship, Ritzville FFA Alumni scholarship and the Willard & Patricia Hennings scholarship.

Davis Killian – Received the Brigham Young University Award of Excellence, Distinguished Young Women Spirit Award, Athletic Award and the Inspirational Award.

Taylor Murphy – Recipient of the Ritzville High School Alumni Association scholarship and the Washington State Achievement Award.

Palmer Phillips – Awarded the Adams County Farm Bureau scholarship, Big Bend Electric scholarship, CHS Foundation scholarship, Paul Teske Memorial/Emanuel Lutheran Church, Ritzville FFA Alumni scholarship, Ritzville Vocational Agriculture scholarship and the Union Elevator Company.

David Ruse – Recipient of the Ritzville Professional Women’s Club scholarship.

Brittany Ste. Marie – Awarded the Eastern Washington University Presidential scholarship, Richard B. Ott Memorial scholarship and the Ritzville High School Alumni Association scholarship.

Chris Steinmetz ­– Recipient of the Inspirational Award, Bronc Booster scholarship, Chapter AR PEO scholarship, Ritzville Alumni Association scholarship and the University of Idaho Discover Idaho Merit Award.

Brent Stromberger – Received the Washington State Grange scholarship.

Taylor Templin – Awarded the Willard & Patricia Hennings scholarship.

Dezarae West – Recipient of the Distinguished Young Woman Award and the Music Contribution Award.

Kailey York – Received the Ritzville Education Association scholarship.

Awards and scholarships were also distributed to former graduates of RHS that are continuing their hard work after high school.

Courtney Flynn and Janell Grams were recipients of the East Adams Rural Hospital Foundation scholarship for pursuing a career in the medical field.

Renee Harder received the American Association of University Women scholarship. Jacob Schofstoll was the recipient of the Ritzville Class of 1958 scholarship.