The stage is made. The seats are set. The streamers and balloons are in place. Everything is prepped and ready – even the stands are filled to capacity – and the only things missing are some very special young adults. That’s right – after four long and hard years, the Class of 2015 is finally graduating.

The 111th Commencement of the Wenatchee High School graduating class of 2015 took place on June 6 at the Town Toyota Center. Many seniors were unhappy with this decision, instead wanting their ceremony to take place in the Apple Bowl, as per tradition. However, it turned out being a great alternate location, offering a lot more seating, and the air conditioning was a nice bonus in the 90 degree weather.

“I mean, all of us wanted it to be at the Apple Bowl,” senior Erin Higley said (who played the piano in one of the musical performances), “but it’s going to be cool wherever it is. Like literally cooler – it’s definitely not 100 degrees.”

The service started out with the traditional walk to “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar. The graduating students lined up in the two main entrances leading in to the arena, while all the teachers lined up on the inside to greet their many students for one final time.

“I was really excited and nervous – but the good kind of nervous,” senior Roger Benjume said.

There were two student speakers who were elected to speak during the ceremony, the first of which being senior Eduardo Ramos. Speaking about the story of the life of a high schooler, from freshman to senior, the speech was very punny – filled with many inside jokes (like their many times spent at Denny’s) and witty comments. With an additional excerpt in spanish for the hispanic families in the valley, which also alluded to his roots of where he came from, he reminisced his journey to where he is now. Concluding with the message to “never forget the standards that we set ourselves”, the speech ended with a spontaneous singing of the Fight Song lead by Ramos.

The second student speaker chosen was senior Francesca Nevil. During her oratory, she talked about purpose and hope, and how those are two of the most important things to have especially going through challenges.

“I mean, we’re only 18 and we’ve had so many [challenges], but really, we’re only 18 and the challenges are just beginning,” Nevil said. “Just seeing those things that have gotten you through – whatever that may be, it’s different for every individual person – but just holding onto those things that have gotten you through to this point today, and not settling for less. For me, my faith is the most important thing in my life, and that’s my hope that’s gotten me through everything, and I honestly know that I would not be…here today, without it.”

Continuing, Nevil talks about taking a moment to reflect on your life, and how even though students have so much to do to keep up with school and all our clubs and all our sports, just taking a second to pause in our very busy lives and enjoy it instead of rushing through it will be for the better.

“That was one of my biggest faults that I wish I could’ve been better at,” Nevil said. “There’s a quote from an anonymous speaker that I really love, which says: ‘The greatest gift you can give someone is your time, because that’s giving them a piece of you that we can never get back.’ I just want to tell everyone that being in the human race is not a race at all.”

She also talked about the importance of thanking people who have supported you – whether it be teachers, family members, or just friends that you have in the community.

“Shoutout to my brother Bob [Nevil] – he’s definitely been my motivator to keep me going. I couldn’t have done it without him,” Nevil said.

The Distinguished Alumnus (presented by senior Alexis Heuchert) was Dr. Kory Kalahar, a WHS graduate in 1992 and the current principal of Westside High School.

“I’m completely humbled and honored to be here,” Kalahar said, “Wenatchee High School means so much to me.”

The faculty speaker for this year was chosen to be Mr. Jay Young, most likely for the fact that he will be retiring this year, finishing off his 47 year streak at WHS, and that he is deeply loved by the students – though Bob Celebrezze would beg to differ, saying he was rather chosen for his “pure good looks”. During his speech, he related life to an iPhone, and tells the students that even if he may not know what all the buttons do, that they should push the buttons anyways because they never know where they may take them.

“I’m just talking about what they need to do for themselves, how to fulfill some dreams, and what to expect out there,” Young said prior to the ceremony, “It was an honor to be chosen – I’m retiring, this is my last time – it couldn’t be any better. This is perfect. I mean, I will miss all of this, so this is just like the icing on the cake.”

Young concluded his speech with his well-known phrase, “I’ll see you at 3:00”, which then led to a standing ovation by the very heartfelt senior class.

In the end, graduation seemed like a success, and almost every senior was happy with how the ceremony turned out. They left with smiles (and possibly tears of happiness), balloons and flowers from various family members, and obviously their diplomas – ready to start the next chapter of their lives.

“I’m relieved to never go back again,” graduate Ronald (Trey) Huff said, “but it was an awfully cool place. I’ve only lived in Wenatchee for a semester, but I did like it here.”