The impact of COVID-19 on the Centralia High School Class of 2022 was remembered as the 140 members graduated Sunday afternoon.
Principal Reid Shipley noted in his welcome they started with a normal freshman school year and finished with a normal senior year, but unfortunately, everything in between was anything but normal.
“If you’ve learned nothing else the last four years, hopefully, these last four years have helped you to learn how to adapt in a positive way when things do not go as planned or go your way. I would like to say congratulations to the Class of 2022 for making it through the last four years.”
Board President Galen Mahle also noted the class of 2022 has already been challenged beyond what anyone could have predicted.
“Let your time here at Centralia High School help you throughout your lives by being a reminder that you have already led yourselves through unpredictable times and throughout your life when you find yourself in unpredictable situations, just remind yourself you have been here before and you made it through. Congratulations and good luck CHS Class of 2022.”
The Class Valedictorian was Abigail Allen who made the opening remarks.
CHS Valedictorian Abigail Allen. Photo by Pat Hodges.
“I am sure most of us are feeling mixed emotions right now. The feeling of relief because we finally made it to graduation and the feeling of leaving the people we have spent the last four years building friendships and making memories with. At this point, I feel like most people like to have our lives pretty much figured out, but sadly that’s not something you can just Google the answer to.”
Allen wished fellow graduates the best in the next chapter of their lives.
Centralia High School Salutatorian Hanna Tomlianovich. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Salutatorian Hannah Tomlianovich provided the final senior remarks.
“We faced many storms during our four years. We only had one normal year of high school, but we made the most of it. We danced through the storm to get to the rainbow. Though the teachers brought on storms of essays, tests, and homework we learned to dance in the rain. Teachers not only taught us scholarly lessons but also life lessons.”
Tomlianovich noted these storms make you realize you never know when something might be your last. She closed by suggesting never to take a moment for granted and continue to dance in the rain.
Centralia High School Administration and School Board on stage for graduation ceremonies. Photo by Pat Hodges.
