MARSHALL - A wave of bittersweet emotions filled the Marshall High School gymnasium on Saturday as 72 students in the class of 2024 sat together for the very last time.
Around 3 p.m. on the rainy afternoon, students gracefully strolled into the gym's front-row seating in true Cardinal fashion donning long, red gowns with the caps to match.
The Marshall High School Band, led by director Ms. Lauren Gentry, welcomed them in with Pomp and Circumstance as students excitedly and nervously filed in, anticipating the moment they got to walk across the stage and accept their diplomas in front of family, friends, staff members and fellow classmates.
Marshall District Administrator Dr. Daniel Grady began the ceremony with a speech welcoming those in attendance, congratulating the class of 2024 and thanking staff members including the custodial crew, high school advisors, the Marshall Board of Education and guidance counselors, in addition to the student musicians in attendance.
Grady also thanked the families of those graduating, noting that each students’ path to graduation could not have happened without their support.
“For our family members: take time to enjoy today,” he said. “Reflect on all those fun memories that make you smile… and be proud, because you’ve given so much for your young adult to be successful, and you’ve done an amazing job. Thank you for supporting your child’s journey.
“Graduates, it’s been my honor as District Administrator. I’ve absolutely loved watching you grow over the last four years. You’re all very unique, all very successful. You’ve worked hard and we’re very proud of you. You’ve accomplished much both in and outside of the classroom, you’ve cared deeply for each other and you’ve been great leaders.”
Grady also mentioned that Marshall High School alumni were always welcomed back to the district to visit, volunteer or work with the district if they desired.
“Together, help us make our schools and Marshall community even more amazing,” he said. “Congratulations, class of 2024. You’ve been exceptional ambassadors of Marshall High School and you make us proud.”
Class speaker, AP Scholar, Summa Cum Laude student and National Honors Society senior Grayson Armstrong was then welcomed to the stage to address his classmates with parting remarks.
“Through the good times and the hard times, we have demonstrated our resilience and camaraderie time and time again. For it is these virtues that have characterized and enabled our success as a class, and blah blah blah blah blah,” Armstrong joked, crumpling up the paper in front of him. “The last thing I want to do is bore you with more well-wishes and congratulations. But forgive me if I get a little sentimental.
“How can I not get a little sentimental?” he said. “This is the last time we’re all going to be together under one roof. This band of kids that have been around for over a decade will officially be disbanded… There's really something special about having a small enough class to be able to recognize and put a name to every face I see in front of me.”
Additional afternoon speakers included Social Studies and Football Junior Varsity Head Coach Chris Seep, who paused the ceremony for one last game of trivia for the students, and graduating senior Olivia Ackah.
“We are all sitting here today because of hard work, persistence and determination we’ve put in despite the adversity,” Ackah said to her classmates. “I would like to start by expressing my gratitude- a task for us graduates here today I recommend doing to whomever has been your biggest support.”
The rest of the ceremony included music performances from the Marshall High School band, who played “Epitaph” arranged by Armstrong, and a choral performance of “On My Way” by Phil Collins from the Marshall High School Choir.
Before the presentation of diplomas, a 10-minute slideshow projected onto the gymnasium wall allowed graduates a nostalgic and sentimental snapshot of their academic journey dating back to Kindergarten. Old and new photos of cherished memories flashed across the screen as the class song, “Home” by Phillip Phillips, played in the background.
Students were then called in alphabetical order to receive their diplomas, along with a carnation, the class flower. Marshall High School principal Mr. Eugene Syvrud and Dean of Students Mr. Matt Kleinheinz presented students with their diplomas.
Following the acceptance of graduates (read by Mrs. Debra Frigo) and closing remarks (read by Syvrud), graduates carried out Marshall Public Schools tradition in which their family symbolically turned their tassels for them to signify the end of their high school years and the start of their new chapters.
The following students’ names were called to walk across the stage on Saturday.
Olivia K. Ackah
Mikail Alexander Taylor
Savanna Andruss
Grayson Scott Armstrong
Makenna Berg-Krogman
Paige Elizabeth Billig
Emily P. Brodbeck
Ruth Margret Brosig
Kenneth R. Brown
Izayah Lee Brown
Miranda Carrillo Dominguez
David Chavarria
Akanksha Chokka
Tucker Jack Cobb
Naomi Kathryn Dahl
Troy M. Dean Jr.
Sydney Mae Denniston
Delane Alan Dial
Kody J. Finke
Samantha Flatt
Mollie Lynn Fritter
Mayra Vanessa Galan
Merary Yael Garcia
Franco Alexis Garcia Tonche
Javier A. Garza
Joseph Gonzalez Jr.
Andrea B. Gorniak
Maggie Jo Grams
Carson W. Grob
Karter Matthew Grossman
Peyton Gundelach
Wynn Held
Navy Held
Isabella Hellenbrand
Elijah J. Hoisington
Jaxon Hornby
Stella Jiannacopoulos
Lacy Johnson
Brayden Isaiah Klubertanz
Logan J. Kopplin
Lizet Veronica Lopez Montes
Kate Marie Luzenski
Fanya Manzano-Valencia
Damonya Marquez McIntosh
Damontray Martez McIntosh
Amelia Florence Meyer
Ryanna L. Moe
Matthew James Motl
Rowan Myers
Jackson Matthew Neuberger
Becky Ni
Keagan O’Brien
Lea Olson
Martin Vicente Onetto Gutierrez
Alyssa Ann Radke
Noori Rashid
Leonardo Rocha Sanchez
Aram Joel Rocha
Alexander Rodriguez
Aliyah Emilie Rund-Smith
Keyla Marie Santana Castillo
Phoebe C. Seep
Steven Sheldon
Nora D. Shelton
Huston J. Siedschlag
Jena Lynn Sorum
Colton Adam Stroschein
Sorey Guadalupe Urbina-Santos
Carlie Jean Warner
Deven Williams
Phillip Yang
Miles E. Zimmerman
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