Bryson graduates 23 students

Fri, 06/02/2017 - 4:41 pm

Bryson valedictorian Breanna Denton presents her mother Adrianne Foyt, back to camera, with some flowers after commencement exercises Friday evening. Each graduate presented family members with flowers as a sign of thanks for the support given to them throughout their school careers.
Addison and Macayla Ainsworth unite with their fellow seniors in singing the Bryson school song one last time during commencement exercises May 26. The girls were part of a 23 member senior class.

BRYSON –J.R. Stearns had the quote of the night concerning Bryson’s Class of 2017.

The keynote speaker during the May 26 ceremony was lighthearted with plenty of good memories of the class. He used the immortal words of Star Wars great Han Solo to describe the group as a whole and what they should be feeling.

“You did great, kids, but don’t get cocky,” Stearns said.

Stearns admitted the 23 members of the class taught him as much as he taught them. He reminded them that they are in the process of putting together their life’s blueprint and getting the structure of their lives assembled.

Valedictorian Breanna Denton said graduation is the first step toward the graduates’ new adventure. Some will go on to college, some will enter the workforce but all will do so through the guidance of “extraordinary faculty members.”

The memories each of the graduates has of their school experience is like the “slideshow of their lives.”

“Whatever you find in your hearts, be sure to follow your dreams upon leaving here,” Denton said. “We are finished being Bryson Cowboys and Cowgirls.”

The entire school experience has flown by in the eyes of Salutatorian Maryum Keyser, who told a story of her father telling her not to blink or it will be gone before her eyes.

“I said ‘yeah, right,’” Keyser remarked. “He was right.”

Keyser thanked her parents for their guidance, for without them she would not be the person she is today. She reminded her classmates that what one generation tolerates, another generation lives by.

Principal Eric Wilson told the full house at the school auditorium the class had earned $197,994.69 in scholarship monies. He also announced the class’ eight honor grads, who had a 90 average during all four years of high school.

Class members were awarded their diplomas and turned their tassels from right to left so they would always have a portion of their school years in their heart. After a final singing of the school song by the class, the mortar boards were tossed and the class went off to start their new lives.