Iola Rotarians went to the second level to determine the top academic performer in the Iola High School senior class. The club gives a watch each year to the top student at commencement exercises. THE CELEBRATION didn’t end when seniors and those come to honor their graduation spilled from the gymnasium afterward.
Jordan Strickler, one of four valedictorians, was the top student, on the basis of scoring 32 on his ACT examinations. Others also having 4.0 (straight A) grade point averages were Elijah Grover, Eric Heffern and Jason Tidd.
Mason Coons was recognized as salutatorian.
Graduation unfolded before a crowd that packed every seat and had some standing in Iola High’s gymnasium Sunday afternoon. Ceremonies were efficient and quick-paced, with the 93 seniors scuffling across the stage and receiving their diplomas in 40 minutes total.
Chanel Coyne thanked teachers, administrators, faculty and parents, speaking on behalf of her classmates.
“Because of your support and encouragement, we are all here today celebrating this special milestone in our lives,” Coyne said, and that she “couldn’t have asked to be a part of a better class.”
She couched her speech in it being a way of “saying my final good-byes to the people closest to me.”
Coyne recounted experiences in freshman year, “battling our lockers, finding ourselves lost in the hallways and sucking up to all of our teachers, so we were on their ‘good sides.’”
As sophomores, “we believed we had it all figured out,” and as juniors, “we could officially call ourselves upperclassman, which gave us a whole new sense of ‘cool.’”
That year also prompted Coyne and her classmates to become leaders and realize responsibility laid ahead, with “senior year being far the most challenging.”
“Today, we stand on the brink of a new chapter in our lives,” Coyne said. “Take a moment to reflect on everything that we have achieved. Take a moment to look back and to see and appreciate just how far we have all come.
“Strive for the best in everything that you do and follow your passion and stay true to yourself,” she concluded. “You need to dare to dream to be all that you can be tomorrow.”
A multitude of small parties unfolded, many honoring several seniors.
An example was at the Dr. John Silas Bass Community Building, where parents of Stephen McDonald, Grover, Coyne and Emily Ware hosted a celebration, complete with individual display of photos and memorabilia recalling the academic journeys of each.
Traveling parties of underclassmen dashed about town, adding their congratulations to adult well-wishers.
IHS sends off 2013 graduating class
