Graduation speeches are often about quotations, so in the words of Salutatorian Madelyn Shaw, “Memory. It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? The combination of almost everything that’s ever happened to us, neatly compiled into some far off space in the back of our heads we can go to at any time. It is an integral part of our everyday lives, and yet we never really notice it until it fails us. I find this to be ironic, because without our memories, we are nothing. If we do not remember the things that happen to us, they essentially didn’t happen to us.”

Wise words from a wise lady, and certainly along the lines of a newspaper’s central mission.  Due to the busy nature of this time of year, there isn’t room here to make a record of everything that happened during last week’s graduation events.  For instance, the large number of scholarships that were given out to Malad’s students from a wide range of sources?  That will have to wait until next week.  The full text of Madelyn Shaw’s speech?  Keynote speaker Elizabeth Kent’s speech? Those are also not in the cards for this week’s paper.   The hundreds of stories, anecdotes, jokes, and other overheard conversations?  Same, but also impossible to capture.  For now, we will leave you will a rundown of the program, and the words of Valedictorian Josh Pickett.  

The music for the prelude, processional, and school song was performed by the Malad High School Concert Band.  Student Body President Zachary Richardson served as the Master of Ceremonies.  The Malad High School Chamber Choir performed the National Anthem.

As the ceremony proper started, new Oneida County Hall of Fame inductees Roslyn Brimhall and Elton Ashton were announced to the audience by Senior Class President Aubree Palmer.  

The Salutatory address by Madelyn Shaw, and the Valedictory address by Joshua Pickett preceded a musical interlude, “Go the Distance” performed by Jes Schow and Hayes Teeples.

Malad High School’s Elizabeth Kent gave the official commencement address, after which retiring Superintendent Jon Abrams spoke for perhaps his last time (for a while, anyway) to students of the Oneida School District as a large group.

Incoming Superintendent and therefore outgoing principal Dallan Rupp officially recommended the Class of 2025, after which they were accepted for graduation by School Board Chairman Brent Evanson, after which diplomas were presented, tassels were moved, hats were thrown, and much rejoicing went up among the people.

We will bring you some of the information alluded to above in the coming weeks, in order to keep it within all of our memories. The class of 2025 graduates into a situation that is a bit uncertain, in terms of global realities, the domestic economy, massive changes in technology and scientific concepts, but when isn’t that the case?  

Those who have worked with this group of students can attest to their seemingly limitless ability to adapt and endure, to deal and move on.  After all, they are the year of student whose early high school experience--when kids are supposed to find their footing and transition into adulthood-- was marked by COVID restrictions and remote schooling.   If they can come out on the other side of that just fine, there’s no doubt they will prosper at whatever comes their way, and navigate the waters however choppy they get.

Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates from the Enterprise!  We wish you well, and know that you will make Oneida County proud.  Always a Dragon!

Valedictorian Josh Pickett’s address

Good evening, my fellow graduates, all the friends and families that came to support us.  Thank you for being here to celebrate this momentous occasion.  Doubtless, this has been a time of reflection for many, if not all of us.  As you think about the past four years, I’d like to remind you of how much time you have spent in high school to make this happen.  From August 18, 2021 to now we have spent 32 hours a week, 37 weeks a year for four years—nearly 8,000 hours.  

During those 8,000 hours, we made many memories.  Memories of friendship, of car rides, of the wild students sections during games with the crazy noise and having to work concessions to make money.  Memories of championships won and championships lost.  Of spending late nights cramming for tests and listening to a conversation that has no business taking place at 8 a.m. Monday morning.

Soon, we will add the memory or graduation to them.  

One of the hardest parts of graduation can be all the goodbyes.  Goodbyes to our teachers and mentors, underclassmen, friends.  Farewell to your class family.  The time will come when you have to say goodbye to all of these, some of them more difficult than others.  But sometimes, goodbye is a second chance.

A chance to spread your wings, meet new people and experience incredible things.  A chance, that if you take it, can lead to places you’ve only dreamed of.  A place where you can continue to make new memories with new people, just the as you have here.  Please, take this chance and experience the world.  Try new things; something great is bound to happen.  Who knows what the next 8,000 hours will be like?

With that, I’d like to congratulate you all once more for what you’ve achieved and wish you the best moving forward.