Haines High School valedictorian Keegan Sundberg on Tuesday urged his classmates to “try your best to accept new things with an open mind. Life is full of surprises.”
Moments before, classmate Kyle Klinger provided a graduation surprise, serenading his classmates with a soulful, sometimes funky, version of “Feeling Good,” a 50-year-old show tune while dancing a circle around them at center court of Karl Ward Gym.
Klinger’s performance enlivened commencement for the class of 2015, a ceremony big on encouragement, fellowship and entertainment.
Commencement speaker Lilly Boron, who teaches high school social studies and Spanish, told students to put faith in the roots they’ve grown here, including skills she said would ground them in life.
“You’ve been forced out of your comfort zone, stretched in some ways and limited in others. Although it may have been hard for you to see, there’s purpose in that. I hope you learned to work through discomfort,” Boron said.
She quoted British wartime leader Winston Churchill, saying that success isn’t final and failure isn’t fatal. “It’s the courage to continue that counts.”
Boron relayed a personal account of having learned to run after the birth of her two daughters. She started by walking and running, until she could go a few miles without stopping. Daunted a few months later after being drafted to participate in a 13-mile run, she said she was inspired by former cross-country coach Liam Cassidy, who told her to trust her training.
“The experience changed me. After that, I learned to do other things. I learned to swim and downhill ski. And I’m not done yet,” Boron said. “Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Set your own goals and start where you are, not where you wish you could be.”
She named each graduate, citing a special attribute each possessed.
Boron also reminded graduates that their educations would no longer be free. “You’re in the driver’s seat… Standing still just means going backwards. So take a step forward.”
Salutatorian Jennie Humphrey said humor was the hallmark of her class. “If I had been given a choice, I probably would never have picked this small group of people to be my classmates… but now I realize I would not have wanted it any other way.”
“You get a strange feeling inside when you realize you will no longer be able to see your closest friends every day and when you realize this is one of the last times the class of 2015 will ever be together,” Humphrey said.
Valedictorian Sundberg used a cheeky introduction to get attention for his speech about the work required for success, which drew a standing ovation from classmates.
Referring to stifling heat in the gym on the warm night, Sundberg quipped: “Think about how we feel on this grand occasion. You should be down here fanning our faces unless you want to deal with some heat exhaustion.”
Sundberg stressed the importance of time management. “Whether the final product of the job is quality depends on your priorities. If you choose to play League of Legends, Final Fantasy or Grand Theft Auto all day, you’re probably going to end up a little short.”
He encouraged classmates to take hold of their own fates. “People will tell you when, where, why and how to do something, but ultimately you’re in charge. You’re the one who decides when it’s time for play, and when it’s time for work.”
Sundberg said he was trying to stay away from clichés, but said some were true. He said school lessons, math matrices and grammar rules that sometimes seem pointless are important. “The little things that seem to have no use are what really make a person strong.”
Perseverance is important to happiness, Sundberg said. “When your pants get dirty, get back up, brush them off and try again. We are Alaskan and we eat it sometimes. I hope your lives are filled with happiness and laughter, but I want you to know there will be struggle.”
After the ceremony, singer Klinger said his performance wasn’t planned as much as it was inspired by the song written for the 1964 musical, “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd.” Remakes include a recent one by Michael Buble.
“I was really calm singing that song. It’s a song I felt really strong for. I felt inspired by it,” Klinger said. Music teacher Kristy Totten, who played piano accompaniment, said Klinger’s performance was a surprise to her as well.
“That was an extravaganza. Kyle’s singing just gets better and better,” Totten said. Other musical performances included the Man Choir’s version of the do-wop song “Sh-Boom” and graduate Lindsey Jobbins singing Katy Perry’s “Fireworks.”
Scholarships awarded to students and alumni included: University of Alaska Scholars ($12,000 over 4 years): Keegan Sundberg, Jennie Humphrey; BP Principal’s Scholarship ($4,000): Keegan Sundburg; BP Process Technology Scholarship ($10,000): Elena Horner; UAS Leadership Scholarship ($2,000): Keegan Sundberg; Haines Volunteer Fire Department: ($750) Lindsey Jobbins, Hannah Wing; ($500) Jennie Humphrey, Alisha Young, Jackie St. Clair; Lynn Canal Conservation ($500): Jennie Humphrey American Legion and Haines Emblem Club ($1,000 each): Lindsey Jobbins, Jennie Humphrey, Paige Winge, Rebekah Green, and Hannah Wing; Uglys of Haines ($1,000 each): Jennie Humphrey, Lindsey Jobbins, Jackie St. Clair, Kyle Rush, Justin Swinton; ($5,000): Jordan Badger; Alaska Native Sisterhood: ($700) Alisha Young, ($500) Lindsey Jobbins ($300) Jackie St. Clair; Haines Sportsmen’s Association Barbara Campbell Memorial ($1,000) Lindsey Jobbins; Dick Hotch Memorial ($1,000): Celia Bower, Tyler Swinton; HARK Anderson-Barnes Memorial ($500): Jennie Humphrey; Haines Women’s Club Alumni ($500): Hannah Wing; Mildred Hermann ($500): Lindsey Jobbins; Pat Jones Memorial ($500): Rebekah Green; Tamera Hyatt Hanson Fine Arts Scholarship ($500): Celia Bower, Lindsey Jobbins; Chilkat Valley News Raymond Menaker Writing Award ($1,000): Jennie Humphrey; Juneau Lions Club ($1,000): Lindsey Jobbins; Haines Education Association and School Staff ($600): Lindsey Jobbins, Paige Winge, Jackie St. Clair; Delta Western ($10,000 over 4 years): Jennie Humphrey.