99 Hawks: Houston High sends off Class of 2017 at Menard Center

WASILLA — Houston High School's Class of 2017 began Mat-Su's string of commencement exercises Monday evening at the Menard Center, led by class valedictorian Isaac Smoldon and salutatorian Ethan Giddings.

Houston principal Bill Johnson opened the string of speakers, stating the 99 graduates "...made the last four years fun and memorable, maybe too fun and memorable at times."

Johnson urged the graduates not to consult not their fears, but their hopes and dreams.

"Keep your focus and stick to the pack. You determine your future. Make it a good one by consulting your dreams, thinking of your potential and embracing the possibilities," Johnson told the group.

Giddings followed with the salutatory address opting to reflect back on some of the more memorable events of the past 12 years.

"Where did the time go?," he asked his classmates urging them to look back and remember "...all those glorious and weird moments we had together...Life is short but I want each and everyone of you to enjoy it...our difference is our strength...these are the moments we'll cherish for a lifetime...Our paths are all different but I know they'll cross again."

Giddings said nothing matters more than families.

"As long as we have them we can do anything and our dreams are limitless...I wish all of you a good fortune to safe travels to where your destiny takes you and where your fate guides you," Giddings concluded.

Smoldon was more philosophical in his valedictory address to the crowd.

"Success. What is success? A better question would be what is success to you?" he began.

He said for some people life comes easy, but eventually they are shown the hard realities of life. Smoldon said the people who end up being successful are not necessarily those who score the most touchdowns, or get the best grades. Smoldon offered what determines success is how one acts in the face of adversity.

"Do they give up or get up and move on?," Smoldon asked. "If you're giving your all and doing something you love, it doesn't matter where you are in life...there is an opportunity out there. If you pursue life to the best of your abilities you will be successful...Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door. Go out in life, find your passion and knock until you've blown the door off its hinges."

Former Houston assistant principal Justin Ainsworth provided the keynote address to the grads and those filling the Menard center. After two years in that role, he advanced to the position of principal at Colony High School before just recently getting the nod as district executive director of instruction.

Ainsworth began stating his two years at Houston were two of the most memorable years as an educator.

"You will make mistakes..succumb to impulsiveness," Ainsworth said. "If there is no struggle, there is no progress. (Mistakes) guide you to the mountaintops of realizing your potential. The sign of a champion is how one responds to mistakes."

Ainsworth told the grads as they get older, their mistakes will become fewer. He said they will be able to rely on wisdom and experience to help guide them and encouraged them to share those mistakes with everyone important in their loves.

When you get older, you know better. As a result, you do better," said Ainsworth. He asked the grads to remember that it is more important to ask yourself 'what problem do I want to solve versus what do I want to do?’”

"Lifelong learning is a survival tool...often reinvent yourself. Learn, unlearn, and relearn. Ask yourself 'what problem do I want to solve?' Take care of little things and the big things take care of themselves," Ainsworth said. "No matter how powerful you become, you will be judged by how you treat people without power. The true definition of character is treating people well without expecting anything in return."

Ainsworth encouraged the graduates to learn to love people for their strengths and their weaknesses, and mostly for their weaknesses. He said people are not built in a state of perpetual happiness.

"You are your family's legacy. Start where you are with what you have...just start," he concluded.

Following Ainsworth's address, the graduates took several moments to acknowledge school staff for their guidance, friendship and effort at making the Class of 2017 the best it could be. Then the grads took to the audience with each presenting roses to parents, friends, grandparents and others who played an important part in getting them to this point.

After presentation of the senior video featuring each graduate, Johnson officially presented the class for graduation and diplomas were issued.

Houston High School Class of 2017

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