PHS seniors stay resilient in final year

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As the saying goes, graduation is the start of a student’s journey. Perryville senior and Student Body President Addie Brewer doesn’t agree with that statement.
“Our journey started a long time ago,” Brewer said during her graduation welcome speech. “Today is the day that it separates into 153 different paths.”
That is the number of paths that will soon see a new course as Perryville High School held its annual graduation ceremony at the Perry Park Center Friday.
“Up to now we have been one team,” Brewer said. “We have laughed together, cried together, been mad together, and even fought a pandemic together. That is what I will remember most about the Class of 2021.”
The ceremony saw changes this year as it was back in the Perry Park Center after a year out on the football field, but each student was allowed six tickets to be used for family members. Senior class president Jack Rehagen found that the reduced crowd along with his shortened welcome speech was indicative of the class’ senior year.
“Our senior year was cut, but it just goes to show the resilience of this class. Let’s be honest, no one wanted or expected our senior year to look anything like this, but here we are.” Rehagen said. “I think that’s what we will be remembered for the most: our resilience.”
Student speaker Bryce Stewart likened the final year for he and his classmates to their time in preschool.
“We had 170 days as seniors at PHS, many of which were not spent on campus,” Stewart said. Just like when we were little, if one of us got sick , we all got sick. We went from sharing toys to sharing the WiFi. But much like preschool, high school has prepared us for the life ahead and something new.”

Despite the pandemic, Samuel Bachmann, who delivered one of the two student addresses noted that now it is time to forge their own paths.
“High school is over and we are adults now,” Bachman said. “It time to take our lives in our own hands. The real world is daunting and change is scary. We must face our fears and live our life, even if it is scary. We can mope that high school is over or we can take life by the horns and make something of ourselves.”
Commencement speaker Hunter Hendricks agreed that the class of 2021 was resilient, but also that they dreamed big, tried hard, and did good things.
“My intention is not to give you a collection of platitudes for which you will have very little use for beyond tonight,” Hendricks said. “ I think it is vital to remind you of all the things you already are, can be, and should continue to be as you leave Perryville High School behind.”
Perryville did not have a valedictorian speech during the ceremony, instead opting for the cum laude honor system. There were 27 students who graduated with honors.
Those students graduating with the highest honors, Summa cum laude, are Jada Ayars, Madelyn Green, Madison Kontomook, Amari Moore and Trevor Schnurbusch.
Students graduating with high honors, Magna Cum Laude, are Chloe Anschultz, Samuel Bachmann, Addie Brewer, Leah Buerck, Claire Fritsche, Lauren Moore, Destiny Oehlert, William Pfaff, Gabrielle Stark and Sierra Welch. The Cum Laude graduates, those earning honors, are Vanessa Booth-Guitierrez, Hallie Bourbon, Sidney Buerck, Haley Fulmer, Gage Gembala, Annie Hayden, Dylan Holt, Kristen Kaempfe, Anna Korando, David Mejia-Box, Brittany Steffens and Bryce Stewart.
Hendricks channeled his inner George Feeney from the sitcom “Boy Meets World” for his lasting message to the graduates.
“Dream, try, do good,” Hendricks said. “No, Mr. Orf, I don’t mean do well, I mean do good.”