Burchell High School celebrates 2022 graduation

WASILLA — Burchell High School’s class of 2022 celebrated their graduation ceremony at the Menard Sports Center, Friday, May 20.

Burchell was part of the final wave of 2022 high graduations in the Mat-Su Borough School District. The return to a fully in-person ceremony was the cause of much excitement after several years of trials and tribulations in and around the pandemic.

BHS principal Shelli Lincoln said this year’s graduation ceremony was exceptionally sentimental for her since it was her last one with the school. She centered her speech on aspiration and fear.

“Many dreams have been stalled or lost to something as simple as discomfort. Dreams and aspirations cause discomfort. Avoiding discomfort erases aspirations,” Lincoln said. “Your story, whether perceived as positive or negative, feeds your aspirations and ability to be brave enough to dare to dream. You are all worthy of aspirations,” Lincoln said. “Once you realize that you are not alone and that a path has been forged for you, be brave and empowered to know that your journey is not entirely yours to figure out. It has already started and it will traverse beyond you… Move forward and try something new. Fail at it, and try it again.

Be brave enough to try it again and again and again; because the dreams of generations before and after you are counting on it.”

Student speaker Pamalea Eloi thanked all the family and friends that supported the class of 2022 for their transition into adulthood. She told her peers that they have a lot to be proud of and she commended them for their dedication and perseverance.

“You stayed strong and pushed through,” Eloi said. “We have all worked hard for this moment and I’m so glad I get to share this with you all, not only to prove that I made some progress in life but also to show that I’m not the same person I was coming into Burchell. Peers that I’ve seen come and go have changed as well and made great strides in their lives… May you continue to blossom and grow with others.”

To view videos of 2022 Mat-Su Borough School District high school graduations, visit vimeo.com/matsutv.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com