By Stephen Smoot
When most people think of the glare and attention of “Friday Night Lights,” they tend to imagine athletes on the gridiron. Last Friday, however, the glare of Friday night lights lay on the proud graduates of the Lincoln High School Class of 2023.
The band struck up “Pomp and Circumstance” and after the opening stanzas, graduates started to file into the gymnasium. Boys wore black robes while the girls donned old gold. They found their way to the black and yellow chairs lined up for them on the gymnasium floor.
To the left and right, proud parents, family, friends, teachers, and staff looked on.
David Decker, principal, opened the ceremony with “I present to you the Lincoln High School Class of 2023” while the crowd rose for the first standing ovation of the night. Students remained standing as Keely Stire led the assembly with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the band playing the Star Spangled Banner.
She then gave the invocation, thanking “our Heavenly Father” for “blessing us with loving teachers, administrators, coaches, and others.” Stire added that “we know, God, that you have a plan for each chapter in our lives.”
Stire then gave her speech. She implored her classmates to understand that “as we start our new beginning, we have these wonderful memories to carry with us.”
Next to the podium came Anna Hayhurst, selected as Miss Cougar. She recalled “the late nights spent studying” and “the essays turned in at the last minute” as part of the high school experience. Hayhurst added that “every single one of us, no matter where we are headed next, has a unique story to tell.”
The student body president, Nick Keller, then took the stage. He first expressed “what a privilege it is to be standing here.” Keller asked his fellow students to not let the moment of graduation pass without reflection. He said “just appreciate what a special moment this is. I want you all to just look around this room and take it in.”
He finished with “appreciate the fact that God gave you life” and finally, thanked his classmates “for all the time we got to spend together.”
Kierstn Posey followed Keller to the dais. She spoke of bringing to life a constructive attitude and showing kindness to others. Regardless of all the changes, good and bad, that life imposes, “there is one thing we can control, our attitude.” When showing kindness, “people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Delaney Haller, then Alexis Marie Herndon spoke next. Haller admitted that on the first day, “I was terrified.” Then the accomplished athlete talked about how “together we laughed, cried . . . took every day in stride.” Herndon discussed the “tumultuous challenges” of this class’s school experience, including COVID and other obstacles. She ended with “we started as scared children. Now we’re young adults.”
Decker then shared his impressions of, and pride in, the Class of 2023. “It is an honor,” he shared. Then he added “we’ll honor the name of each graduate and their contribution to the legacy of Lincoln High School.”
That legacy includes earning “over $1 million in post secondary education.
Decker wrapped up his words by quoting Benjamin Franklin. He shared that “this Founding Father” said “lost time is never found again.”
After he shared this wisdom, the graduates received their diplomas.
The final student to address the graduates was Lance Hostuttler. He shared “what an honor it is to be named Mr. Cougar” and told his classmates that “it’s been a great four years.”
Then he asked the assembly to remember “a classmate who could not be here today, Levi Tinder (check name) At his behest, all gave 23 seconds of silence in his memory.
“Maybe we didn’t have the most normal high school experience,” Hostuttler said, “but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Decker closed the proceedings by asking all to “please stand as we honor our school together” as the band played the alma mater.
Then he ended by saying “families, friends, and guests, I present to you the 2023 graduates of Lincoln High School.
Graduates celebrated, hugged families and friends, said good-bye to friends, some of whom they may never see again until reunions.
Then all walked off into the night as graduates faced the next chapter of their lives.