Lind-Ritzville seniors ready to face the world
Jun. 12—RITZVILLE — The Lind-Ritzville Class of 2025 has made it.
"Today, we're walking across the stage in wizard hats, holding diplomas that prove we endured through it all: the chaos, the cramming and the laughter and all the growing pains that came with high school," said salutatorian Temple Gefre.
Two by two, the 34 members of the Class of 2025 processed into the Gilson Gym on Saturday to the high school band's strains of "Pomp and Circumstance." As is LRHS custom, the procession was led by the junior class marshals, Zoe Galbreath and Beau Fode.
LRHS Principal Kevin Terris started by reading a list of accomplishments of members of the class of 2025. Some, like participating in Future Farmers of America or performing in the school band, were fairly general.
Others were very specific.
"If you finished in seventh place at the WIAA state track competition 200-meter run with a time of 22.79, please stand," Terris said.
The class had nine valedictorians, of whom five spoke at the ceremony. Camden Shaver took the podium first.
"I wasn't going to do a speech here today until one of my closest friends said to me, 'I've never seen a brown person on that stage in a long time,'" she said. "And as silly and bold as that sounds, it truly hit ... Whether your skin is brown, yellow or purple, whether your hair doesn't 'behave,' your background is different, or your identity or expression doesn't match what people expect, you are not too much. You are more than enough."
Emilia Klewin attended classes at Eastern Washington University and participated in ROTC there while finishing up at LRHS, an experience that brought some lessons home to her. Brody Boness' high school years were marked with adversity through major sports injuries, he said, which taught him the value of perseverance. Alyssa Williams discussed overcoming her competitive nature to learn that comparison is the killer of joy, and Addy Colbert spoke of learning not to be so eager for the next stage of life that you miss out on the current one.
The Class of 2025, collectively, was awarded more than $1 million in scholarships, School Counselor Kayla Walker said. Additionally, a few students were singled out for special recognition. Fredy Granados-Lopez and Liz Cruz earned the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. Granados-Lopez also received The Harry P. Hayes Award. The Honor Cup went to Claire Wellsandt.
The guest speaker was former Gonzaga basketball star Mike Nilson, who spoke about the importance of commitment. Final words before the diplomas were awarded came from senior Brix Curtis, chosen by his peers to deliver the closing address. Curtis was not an especially distinguished student or an impressive athlete, he said, but his class's achievements weren't about those things.
"The best part about my class is that at their core, they're all good, kind people and to me, that is what matters," he said. "As far back as I can remember, my class has always been in constant competition, not to be better than each other, but to better ourselves as a collective. We have nine valedictorians for a reason ... We all did these things not to impress ourselves, but because we were all surrounded by impressive people, people who lift each other up and show each other it's possible to do great things once again."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
5 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
"I Don't Know Why We Didn't Buy It Sooner": 33 Parenting Products That'll Make You Feel Like A Certified Genius
A time-saving Oxo Tot grape cutter to make the tedious task of cutting your kiddo's grapes more bearable. You'll eliminate choking hazards while saving tons of time. It can also be used for pitted olives, grape tomatoes, etc. A bestselling Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy that'll play up to 10 classical melodies, like Mozart, Chopin, etc. It'll also display twinkling lights that dance with the music to help calm your cranky genius in no time. A pair of ~handy~ faucet extenders if your child is old enough to use the sink but not quite tall enough to reach the faucet and wash their hands. Instead of hoisting 'em up, combine an extender with a step stool for a match made in parenting heaven! A stain remover specifically made for messy eaters, which is basically a parent's dream come true. Keep it on hand for those stains you once thought were permanent! Clean up the mess, spray the spot, then wash as usual. You'll have to brag about this find immediately — and no one will blame you for it. A set of divided silicone plates complete with extra suction on the bottom because you *can* prevent your child from chucking their dinner at the wall for funsies. Each item will remain separate as they wish *and* they're microwave- and dishwasher-safe for easy prep and cleanup. A brilliant on-the-go harness seat so you always have a high chair for your babe — even when the restaurant doesn't offer one. It comes with three height-adjustable straps to keep them secure. Don't be surprised when people come up and ask, "Where did you find that?" A clever car seat buckle release tool when your nails have suffered at the hand of your kid's buckle more times than you can count. This Shark Tank product gets the buckle undone without any causalities. It's also great for people with arthritis, carpal tunnel, and other conditions that cause limited hand strength. A LeapFrog 100 Words Book that'll be a fun activity your inquisitive toddler can interact with while learning new words in the process (in both English and Spanish). They can touch the words on the pages to hear new vocabulary, sound effects, and fun facts. Yep, you'll have a certified baby genius on your hands before you know it! Silicone pouch lids, which is an actual miracle if your kid just LOVES squeezing snack pouches until they explode. The lid has a flow-control valve to prevent spills while still allowing them to sip it. Once you try 'em, there's no going back. And some spill-proof Munchkin snack catchers to save you both time *and* headaches. Now there will be fewer Goldfish crackers living rent-free on your living room floor just waiting to be vacuumed up. They're even dishwasher safe on the top rack! Some quick-drying, smudge-free washable dab and dot markers so your kids can have some fun without creating an irreversible mess. Cleaning their hands after hours of drawing has never been so easy. Your only regret will be not discovering 'em sooner! A pack of highly absorbent toilet seat covers you'll count on for potty training *and* for those public bathrooms that are crawling with germs. These even come with an optional adhesive strip to ensure it stays in place during use. It's better than trying to line the seat with flimsy strips of TP just for them to fall in the bowl! A pancake batter mixer for combining wet and dry ingredients so you can make their fave breakfast food in a flash! It comes with a built-in BlenderBall wire whisk, so all you have to do is shake everything up and get cooking — with fewer dishes to clean, I might add. Genius!!! A set of dishwasher-safe plastic knives that'll encourage their kitchen participation, which is perfect if you have a lil' sous chef in training. These are great for basic chopping but aren't sharp enough for them to hurt themselves. An adorable 3D-printed foam soap dispenser attachment because getting your little one to wash their hands can be a challenge. Add this attachment to your soap bottle's nozzle and they'll be convinced to get clean with the magic of a foamy soap shaped like Mickey (or Minnie)! A FridaBaby three-step cradle cap system when your babe is on the struggle bus and you've tried everything else without success. Lather their head with the foam sponge, gently massage and loosen flakes with the bristle brush, then lift the flakes with the fine-tooth comb. Tushbaby's hip carrier if you *literally* need to take a load off when it comes to carrying your kid around. This will help prevent back strain and it has plenty of storage pockets for your parenting essentials. The adjustable waistband extends up to 46 inches or you can grab their waist strap, which adds an extra 24 inches. A beloved toothbrush holder and dispenser to make teeth brushing less stressful and *much* less time-consuming. It squeezes toothpaste directly onto your child's toothbrush for you. It can also hold two toothpaste bottles, five toothbrushes, and other essentials! Say goodbye to those gooey counter messes. A life-altering baby shusher for soothing fussy youngsters so fast, it'll feel like you sprinkled some sort of sleepy fairy dust on 'em. It emits a gentle, rhythmic "shhhh" sound to soothe your baby with a 15-or 30-minute timer. Many reviewers also swear by this for those precious sleeping baby photo shoots! An Inglesina Fast table high chair that'll easily make you feel like the smartest parent in the room because it clamps right onto tables that are up to 3.5" thick! Now you don't have to rely on bulky high chairs crowding your space a moment longer. A 2-in-1 bath toy scoop and organizer when you want to tidy up after that chaotic tub playtime sesh much faster. Scoop 'em, store, 'em, then suction the quick-mesh dry basket to the wall. Tbh, this one's too genius not to share in the group text. A car video monitor with a 4.3-inch display, 360-degree rotation, and a wide angle for a crisp, clear view of the backseat! This means you won't have to rely on wobbly baby mirrors that get full of gunk and smudges so quickly. Rather than pulling over every time they cry, you can glance at the monitor at a stoplight to check on them. A Contigo spill-proof tumbler so you can be done cleaning up toddler-related messes that could've been easily avoided. Spills and leaks are no match for this brilliant cup. Bonus: It can go in the dishwasher *and* the straw twists apart for easy-peasy cleaning. A double-duty conditioning spray that not only leaves their hair soft and smooth, but also helps prevent lice with a blend of rosemary, citronella, tea tree, and geranium oils. No parent wants to receive that dreaded phone call from school about a lice outbreak, but this will give you peace of mind that you took preventative measures! A budget-friendly Pop2Play foldable indoor slide you'll feel wise for owning, especially on rainy days when kids are stuck inside. It pops up in just a few minutes for playtime and folds down flat for convenient storage when they're done. Push in the sturdy side flaps for extra reinforcement! A sleep-training clock because as much as you love your mini-me, you still need your ZZZs! It uses vibrant colors and cute facial expressions to teach 'em when it's bedtime and when it's time to get up. There are three sleep sound options, six night-light colors, and adjustable brightness settings. An activity table so cleaning up after hours of playing games is an absolute breeze. It has a roomy storage drawer that you can sweep everything right into. You'll never have to cry out in pain after stepping on a rogue Lego again! A wonderfully compact Doona Liki Trike when you want something that can grow with your child. It can be used in parent push mode for babies as young as 10 months, then it transforms into a tricycle for kids up to 3 years old! As they become more active and adventurous, they'll love riding this thing around on all your travels. An Itzy Ritzy adjustable stroller organizer for parents who know the struggle of trying to juggle all their belongings *and* their kids' stuff. Now you'll have a place for the essentials in the form of a chic accessory that'll earn you endless compliments on the playground. A drool-worthy microwave s'mores maker to facilitate a fun and delicious activity for kids without too much prep — no open fire needed! You'll have mouthwatering s'mores ready for consumption in just 30 seconds. A Smart Lab human body toy if your lil' Einstein is a big fan of hands-on learning. It comes with 21 removable body parts and squishy organs so they'll be plenty interested in learning about human anatomy! A sensory swing made of a sturdy, stretchy two-layer cotton fabric when the mini acrobat in your life could benefit from some fun yet safe bouncing and swinging. They'll burn off excess energy in a way that doesn't involve their eyeballs being glued to a screen. It's official — you're a certified genius ✅. A gentle but effective baby nail trimmer so you can tame your tiny tot's talons without it leading to screaming and tears. Parents love the whisper-quiet design and that it's way easier to use than standard nail clippers.
Dominion Post
12 hours ago
- Dominion Post
Suncrest Elementary librarian receives national honor
Librarians in elementary school field a lot of questions in the course of the school day. Suncrest Elementary's nationally known librarian, Charlotte Chung, could write a book, then check it out, as she recounts the queries that have come her way in the course of her career. 'I had a student ask me, 'How do worms poop?' 'Is infinity a number?' I love that they immediately think, 'OK, let's ask Miss Chung. She's a librarian.'' She can tell you all about it when you click on that video produced by the Carnegie Corp. of New York City. Visit for that link. Chung was among 10 librarians across the U.S. recognized with the 'For the Love of Librarians' award, sponsored by philanthropic firm and the American Library Association. Chung was lauded for purchasing books and audiobooks in the native languages of students who attend the diverse school on Collins Ferry Road, by way of grants she secured. Suncrest Elementary now boasts a multilingual collection of books that Chung says will speak to students there. She was especially heartened this past school year, she said, by the kindergartener who proclaimed, 'This book is for me,' as she showed the audiobook in Spanish to her classmates. 'By providing books in first languages, we as school librarians support the literacy and educational goals of our students,' the librarian said. By third grade, educators and literacy watchers said, students should be reading to learn after years of learning to read. Her fellow honorees include a bookmobile librarian in Hawaii who literally delivered the printed word and other informational materials to parents and students displaced by wildfires that ravaged the Maui coast in 2023. Another high school librarian in Texas was spotlighted for her work with low-income families in her school district.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Suncrest Elementary librarian receives national honor
Jun. 12—Librarians in elementary school field a lot of questions in the course of the school day. Suncrest Elementary's nationally known librarian, Charlotte Chung, could write a book, then check it out, as she recounts the queries that have come her way in the course of her career. "I had a student ask me, 'How do worms poop ?' 'Is infinity a number ?' I love that they immediately think, 'OK, let's ask Miss Chung. She's a librarian.'" She can tell you all about it when you click on that video produced by the Carnegie Corp. of New York City. Visit for that link. Chung was among 10 librarians across the U.S. recognized with the "For the Love of Librarians " award, sponsored by philanthropic firm and the American Library Association. Chung was lauded for purchasing books and audiobooks in the native languages of students who attend the diverse school on Collins Ferry Road, by way of grants she secured. Suncrest Elementary now boasts a multilingual collection of books that Chung says will speak to students there. She was especially heartened this past school year, she said, by the kindergartener who proclaimed, "This book is for me, " as she showed the audiobook in Spanish to her classmates. "By providing books in first languages, we as school librarians support the literacy and educational goals of our students, " the librarian said. By third grade, educators and literacy watchers said, students should be reading to learn after years of learning to read. Her fellow honorees include a bookmobile librarian in Hawaii who literally delivered the printed word and other informational materials to parents and students displaced by wildfires that ravaged the Maui coast in 2023. Another high school librarian in Texas was spotlighted for her work with low-income families in her school district.
