WHITEHALL — Whitehall's Class of 2026 celebrated its graduation last Thursday at the Viking Athletic Center, and as is tradition, the Vikings' senior class officers each delivered brief remarks, though not before school principal Brett Westerlund jokingly congratulated the class on one of its most notable accomplishments - bringing back the hacky sack, a school fad in the 1990s that is now back. (And sure enough, following the ceremony, a small circle formed on the VAC floor and an impromptu game broke out.)
Maybe the most energetic among the four was class president Lorelai Page, the last of the four speakers, who encouraged her classmates to pursue their dreams no matter how they turn out. As an example, she used her childhood mission to get her parents to buy her a pet hamster, which even included a presentation about why she should receive one. Eventually, she got her hamster - and it lasted only half a year before passing away.
Not the happy ending she hoped for, perhaps, though Page said it's an example of a dream that changed direction. As she put it, changing direction, or coming up with a new dream, doesn't necessarily mean failure.
As an example of a slightly more successful dream, Page invoked recording artist Taylor Swift, whom Page said succeeded not because her work was perfect, but because it was honest.
"If your dream isn't something that scares you, you probably aren't dreaming big enough," Page said. "Don't stop searching until you find the thing that gives you a spark, and then give it your all."
Other officers to speak were secretary Izzy Gould, treasurer Payton Hams and vice-president Blake Dennis.
Gould shared a story about doing puzzles at Christmas each year with her grandfather and being impatient to reach this day. She said now that it's here, the question is whether the class is truly ready - and if they're not, it's alright. Some in the VAC know exactly what their next step is, and some have no idea. "The truth is, both are OK," she said.
Hams made note of how young people are often focused on the next milestone ahead and urged her classmates to be present in each moment, saying, "The days you're given are precious...Life doesn't wait. It just keeps going."
Dennis said graduation day is intimidating because it marks the first time for him and his classmates that their future is truly in their hands. However, as it's almost a given that each of them will change their minds about their life and fail at some point, there's nothing to fear.
"This is not the end of our story; it's only the end of one chapter," Dennis said.
These thoughts were echoed by superintendent CJ Van Wieren, who assured the class that a meaningful and successful life doesn't originate on only one path. Like Hams, Van Wieren encouraged the class to be present.
"Put the phone down once in a while," Van Wieren said. "Never lose the value of genuine connection."
The Whitehall band and choir performed senior song selections, "As Summer Was Just Beginning" and "Even Amid the Darkest Storm" respectively. Then, all 145 Whitehall seniors received their diplomas.
