Vanderholm, Volquartsen lead Stanton’s 14 in class of ‘15

 “This is Stanton’s 126th graduating class,” noted Superintendent Christopher Herrick in his comments to this year’s graduating class of 14. “The first class had one student, and I believe the following year there were 5. So you see, there have been smaller classes.”

Principal Kevin Blunt welcomed the students and advised them that this was the perfect opportunity to begin the next chapter in their lives. 

Blunt introduced the two valedictorians who finished tied for the top academic honor: Heidi Vanderholm and Joey Volquartsen. 

Vanderholm began by congratulating her friend and co-valedictorian. “We’ve been friends since we were really little, and I want to apologize to Amber (Joey’s mother) for all the trouble I’m sure we put her through,” she said. Heidi then went on to talk about our reliance on technology. 

“I think we tend to ‘Google’ things too often,” she said. “But we are about to have to let go of some of our lifelines. Our parents are not going to be there to do things for us. Google isn’t going to show up for an interview. This is about us. We have to chase our dreams ourselves. Our future will be what we make it.”

Volquartsen spoke about music, noting “music is a universal language, and so many of my memories are related to songs.”

She went on to describe some of the songs that evoke special memories for her.

“’Taking Care of Business’ makes me think of Bailey, our yearbook editor, who is such a hard worker, ‘You’ve Got a Friend’, reminds me of Heidi, because we’ve been friends since preschool, and ‘50 Ways to Say Goodbye’ makes me think of the 13 kids who came and went in our class without making it to graduation.” The High School Chorus sang “Homeward Bound,” and “100 Years” was sung by the graduating seniors. 

Following the presentation of diplomas, the program concluded with a slide show of the graduates at various ages and stages of their lives.

Rev. Eric Kutzli then sent the graduates on their way, each with a new box of crayons, saying, “I won’t tell you not to color outside the lines, but what I will tell you is that you can make your own lines.” 

Seniors who received diplomas include: Brielle Brown, Trisha Dalrymple, Hunter Day, Bailey Foote, Jacob Osher, Kyle Peterson, Erin Sorensen, Lauren Stephens, Dana Swanson, Heidi Vanderholm, Joey Volquartsen, Logan Wagg, Haley Weis, and Amanda Yeager.