Last year, COVID-19 robbed students of their senior-year events and traditional graduation celebrations, but their teachers, principals and staff threw their hearts into preparing graduation ceremonies never to be forgotten. Not much has changed for this year’s graduating class.
Stayton High School will be graduating 157 students this year. The graduation ceremony will be at 6 p.m. June 11 on the Sublimity Harvest Festival grounds. Seniors will be given tickets to admit two vehicles to the ceremony. Social distancing guidelines will be followed.
“Stayton High School’s Class of 2021 has demonstrated hope and resilience, finding the courage and strength to succeed in the midst of the challenges and setbacks that have represented this school year,” said Principal Vicky Storey.
Valedictorians are Olivia Atiyeh and Mya Joyce. Atiyeh plans to attend Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls next year to study echocardiology. Joyce plans to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. To study premed, focusing on ophthalmology. Connor Riedman is salutatorian.
Cascade High School will graduate 175 seniors at ceremonies taking place at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on June 9 at the school.
Valedictorians are Amelia Dettwyler, Cory Kyle, Mason Rosenau, Ben Roth and Mason Roth. Blake Miller is the salutatorian.
Seniors rose to the occasion at every endeavor said Principal Matt Thatcher.
“Whether in the classroom, online, or extracurricular activities, they always represented themselves and Cascade extremely well,” said Thatcher. “I am confident that by overcoming this year, they will be successful no matter what the future holds for each of them.”
Santiam Jr./Sr. High School will graduate 18 seniors, seniors at 6 p.m. June 12 at the school’s football stadium.
Principal Angela Rasmussen called the Class of 2021 “small but mighty.”
“So many of them have gone to school together for the last 13 years that they truly function as a family,” she said.
With much of the Santiam Canyon under siege from wildfires, ice storms and COVID, Rasmussen commends the seniors for “finishing strong.”
at Regis High.
Regis High School will graduate 29 seniors at 6:30 p.m. June 11 on the Regis High School football field. Izak Schmidlkofer is valedictorian and Sara Vetter, salutatorian.
“We are graduating an amazing class of students that have endured two school years impacted by COVID-19, a late start to their senior year due to wildfires, and additional school closures caused by a significant ice storm,” said Principal Candi Hedrick. “[T]he graduates are finishing up their high school career with acceptance letters to colleges of their choice, impressive merit scholarships and career opportunities, state championship titles and athletic accolades…”
“We have enjoyed watching them grow and have never been more impressed by such a resilient group of young men and women,” she added. “Best wishes to our Class of 2021!”
