Sprague graduates college bound

The Sprague High School Class of 2013 honored six students during a Saturday night ceremony on June 1 and celebrated the academic achievements of the students. All six of the graduates intend on attending the college of their choice next fall with plans to pursue a variety of degrees and careers.

The six students accumulated over $40,000 in scholarship money to use to further their education. Leading the class was valedictorian Kelly Melville and salutatorian Zachary Swanger.

Rachel Barrus and Alanna Wheeler presented the welcoming address together, and helped introduce Swanger and Melville to the podium. Ethan Melville performed the introduction of the class speaker, Janet Whipple, while Swanger and Josh Fritts presented the future plans of the graduates.

Whipple serves as the band, chorus, algebra two and pre-calculus teacher at Sprague High School.

Kelly Melville focused the valedictorian address on the development of friendships and character building experiences the graduates had while attending Sprague Schools. She explained that the relationships built during their years together are something she will always cherish and never forget.

“And I’m truly honored to be a part of this class; I know a lot of classes probably say that they’re special, but I really believe that we are. We accept and embrace each other, even though every one of us is a little weird and certainly not perfect. That’s what makes us special; we’ll always be the Class of 2013, but most importantly, I think we’ll always be best friends too,” Kelly Melville said.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about circles lately maybe because of the fact that we all are sort of the same as we were 12 years ago, and also going away from this school and this town feels a lot like I remember feeling leaving home for the first day of Kindergarten,” Kelly Melville continued.

“And I think the sooner that we accept that we’re going to keep running around in circles, that we’re going to keep being afraid, that we’re going to keep going through hardships, but that the good memories and lessons and moments of euphony that come as we wear these painful paths, if we accept them and realize that something good can come out of them, are well worth it, then we can truly reap the benefits of our inherently circular lives,” Kelly Melville said.

Kelly Melville plans to attend the College of Idaho to study chemistry, while Swanger intends to pursue a degree in secondary history education at Eastern Oregon or Washington University. Barrus is attending Northwest Christian University to pursue a degree in accounting.

Fritts is moving on to attend Big Bend Community College this fall, and Ethan Melville is continuing his education at Eastern Oregon or Washington University. Wheeler is attending the University of Idaho to pursue a career in psychology.