The Trinity Lutheran High School graduating Class of 2024 stands before their family, peers and teachers at their commencement ceremony held last Saturday morning.
Trinity graduates eagerly await to take the stage and receive their diploma.
Salutatorian Drew Hubbard spoke on start of the class of 2024’s high school experience being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valedictorian Kiley Zabel gave reassurance to her graduating peers that God will always have a plan for them.
Pastor Joshua Haugen led the audience in prayer at the start of the ceremony and quoted scripture throughout.
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2
“Rock Solid” was the theme of the 2023-2024 school year at Trinity Lutheran High School, referring to the above quoted Bible verse. It was the final theme of the year for the graduating class of 2024, whose commencement ceremony was held Saturday morning in the gymnasium.
“Our story begins with the dreaded year of 2020,” salutatorian Drew Hubbard said as she began her salutation. “This year’s [graduating] class has sort of had the short end of the stick because of it. COVID hit at the end of eighth grade, cutting the end of the year short for us. Sitting at home during COVID gave me a lot of time to think about high school. I made myself sick worrying about what it would be like to go to a brand new school. I worried about how hard the classes were gonna be, how I was going to make new friends, if the sports were going to be harder. But looking back on all those worries, I couldn’t have asked for a better high school experience.”
Addressing her fellow graduates, Hubbard said, “I’ve spent the past few days reminiscing over all these memories I’ve shared with you all today, and I’m going to miss every second of it.”
We’re done now, and I don’t know what’s in store for me in college, but I do know that I won’t have any of you right by my side anymore,” she said. “I won’t get to laugh with my friends in drama class or dread the next calculus test with my friends […] As we part ways, it’s important for us to remember that despite leaving each other, we will always have Christ by our side.”
Following Hubbard’s salutation, Pastor Joshua Haugen led the audience in prayer.
“Lord, God, Heavenly Father, you provide schools and teachers for faithful and dedicated learning, continue to bless Trinity Lutheran High School and all Lutheran schools in our community, so that by your blessing we may continue to educate, prepare and develop Christian servants and leaders in the one Christian faith,” he prayed. “Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.”
Next, members of Trinity’s choir sang “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord).”
Following the choir’s performance, John Anderson, who is retiring this year after 23 years of service at Trinity Lutheran High School, read from scripture.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,” Anderson said, quoting 1 Peter 2:1-7. “Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual knowledge, so that by it you may grow up into salvation, and indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to Him, the living Stone, rejected by men but in the sight of God precious, you yourselves, like living stones, are building yourselves into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: ‘Behold, I am rain as I am stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him shall not be put to shame.’ So, the honor is for you to believe, and for those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’”
After more choir performances and more readings from scripture by Pastor Haugen, valedictorian Kiley Zabel gave her address.
“Before I really start this speech, I just want to say thank you,” Zabel said. “Thank you to all of the Trinity staff, pastors, coaches, past teachers, family and all others who have been with us through this journey to today. You’ve all played important roles in our lives, whether you think you have or not. But I especially want to say thank you to every parent who is here today. While yes, we may act annoyed with you at times, we really do appreciate everything you do for us.”
Addressing her fellow graduates, Zabel said, “We’re all one big family of Christ who have been blessed to grow in the word of God, and who lead by example for those around us […] While leaving high school can be scary, we really shouldn’t be worried because God promises to be with us each and every step of the way. We might not know where our path will take us next, but God does. He knows exactly what the future holds for each and every one of us.”