Darrell Hill (Left) and Trey Etzen (Right) celebrate as the graduating class recesses out of the roundhouse. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

On Sunday, the STC Roundhouse was filled to the brim with spectators watching the class of 2023 receive their last honors as a part of the South Tama County Community School District.

Noticeable this year was the absence of blue caps and gowns for female students. No reason was made public for the change, and the class of 23′ looked more than unified.

After the graduating class processed into the gymnasium, stepping in unison to the ever famous “Pomp and Circumstance,” the Star Spangled Banner was played and High School Principal Robert Boley delivered a warm welcome and offered some advice and guidance to the class of 2023.

Boley urged the Trojan seniors to live their life with the 3 F’s — Faith, Family, and Fun. Boley explained each of the three concepts with passion and care, evident in his voice. In his first year as high school principal, true connections were made with the student body.

This led to the introduction of academic honors. Students with a grade point average of 3.50-3.74 were recognized as graduating with honors while 3.75 and beyond were recognized as graduating with distinction.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

Boley then named Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Libby Albright seemed caught off guard when she was recognized as Salutatorian. A look of shock centered across the face of the STC Senior as Boley read her name.

Jasmin Ramos was named Valedictorian and proceeded to deliver a meaningful speech delivered in both English and in Spanish. Her speech served as a testament to the diversity in the class of 2023 and all of the STC district.

Ramos outlined the atypical high school experience her and all members of the senior class experienced, being only freshmen when the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation. Ramos spoke on the highs and lows of high school paired with the resilience the class had shown.

Next up was class speaker Libby Albright. Albright started with thank you’s before divulging into the theme of her speech, the importance we put into a simple piece of paper.

“Maybe there are some things that are just too big and too beautiful for anything to properly display just how much they mean, so we settle for paper,” she said.

Itzel Herrera is all smiles as she walks across the graduation stage. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

She spoke of her view that this simple piece of paper is an invitation to become the change each individual graduate wants to see. Albright spoke with passion and held the attention of the packed high school gymnasium. Class speaker is voted on by the graduating class as one of their final representatives, and it is no small honor.

Following Albright’s speech was faculty speaker Emily Chyma. Being selected in this role many times previously, Chyma always finds a way to encapsulate the energy and individual characteristics of the respective graduating class, this year was no exception.

She started by thanking the previous two speakers and commenting that they were a hard act to follow. She outlined her time in college and highlighted the class in a way only a teacher could.

Superintendent of Schools John Cain then presented and certified the graduates seated before the crowd of family, friends, and community members.

As diplomas were handed out, STC continued a wildly popular tradition of graduates selecting a staff member to hand them their well earned diploma.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

To this point, all students have ever known is life inside of a classroom and three months of summer break, with each diploma bestowed upon a graduate, seniors were handed the keys to life outside of public high school — an opportunity to go into the world and continue on in a way of their choice.

Many reacted with smiles and enthusiasm, while some wept in an outward display of emotion. Life had built to this point for all the graduates.

Once all diplomas were handed out to the class of 2023, it was then time to conclude the ceremony. The recessional began with the playing of “Good Life” by OneRepublic.

With that, the class of 2023 is off into the world, ready to experience life in each of their own unique ways. Through immense adversity and huge triumphs, the class of 2023 has a bright future ahead.

Curtis Keahna hugs Dustin Peska after being handed his diploma. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER