The Final Flight: Last class of Villisca graduates receive diplomas
VILLISCA — A tear-stained audience of family, friends and community members were present to honor the Villisca class of 2013 at the last ever Blujay graduation Sunday.
The class of 27 marked history as being the last class to graduate from Villisca before it enters a wholegrade sharing agreement with Corning to become the Southwest Valley Timberwolves.
Sunday’s celebration began with the traditional march of the graduates through the audience while the band played “Pomp and Circumstance.”
After a choral rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” honor graduate Jennifer King gave the opening remarks, reminding her peers while high school has come to a close, it’s the beginning of a new journey.
“We are fortunate to be the last class to graduate from the Villisca Community School District,” King said. “We’ve all felt the pressure of the final flight... but we have risen above.”
The choir then performed “I Believe I Can Fly” followed by the class song, “You’re Gonna Miss This.” Graduate speakers Travis Herzberg, honor graduate, and Morganne Haer, Co-Valedictorian, made their classmates laugh and cry, detailing a list of class members dating back 13 years, highlighting major achievements like making it to state in basketball and proudly receiving Corner Conference trophies.
Next, honorary speaker Principal Lora Top recited a Dr. Seuss inspired poem, in honorof the class motto, a Dr. Seuss quote which states, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Top then showed a video of students performing the inspirational, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go.”
“Dr. Seuss forces us to use creativity and enjoy life...I hope this stays with you throughout life and reminds you to always be true to you,” Top said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better class to represent our Bluejays’ last flight.”
Following the awarding of diplomas, Co-Valedictorian Jill Vanderhoof closed the ceremony reminding her classmates of three little words, “Forever a Bluejay.” At that, the Villisca class of 2013 tossed their caps in the air before processing out of the gymnasium for the last time as high school students.
The class of 2013 collectively received almost 60 different scholarships and awards and the majority will be going on to higher education throughout Iowa and Missouri. One student will be joining the armed forces.
The graduates were: Jacob Arnold, Elizabeth Baker, BreeAnn Fisher, Morganne Haer, Travis Herzberg, Jennifer King, Andrea Liddell, Zachary Marshall, Nickolas McLaughlin, Cassidy Mullen, Destiney Sickels, Jared Spunaugle, Damon Sunderman, Jeffrey Whitt, Jace Ayres, Emma Bodwell, Amanda Focht, Olivia Herzberg, Tyler Kelso, Michael Kleindienst, Emily Marshall, Max Mauderly, Heather Means, Dominick Sexton, Austin Sorensen, Cole Sunderman and Jill Vanderhoof.