Diplomas, milestones, roses, and penguins mark the Houston Class of 2024 graduation ceremony

A busy week of high school graduations began this week with Houston High School as the Class of 2024 Hawks took to the Menard Center on Monday evening.

“This is an important milestone, a changing event that marks our future, our adulthood, and we could not have done it without all of you,” said Shaunie Huber, Senior Class President and Master of Ceremonies, starting things off.

Chad Martin, Principal, welcomed attendees, saying the celebration encapsulated the yearbook theme, “Forming Foundations.”

“Today, we gather to honor a class that has laid the groundwork for future success, both for themselves and as an inspiration to others,” he said. “Graduates, you’ve built a solid foundation of knowledge, ethics, and ambition during your time as a student. Your hard work and dedication are examples of the process of constructing something enduring and significant.”

Dallas Winter, the Class of 2024 salutatorian, told the audience that she was nervous and waited for inspiration for her speech, hoping it would write itself before thinking about a quote from Les Brown:

“You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.”

She said she used those words to push herself through any nervousness she was experiencing, relating those words to her classmates.

“Something I think we all do is spend time worrying so much, developing a ton of worries for the tasks that need to be completed. Letting fear hold you back will rob joy from your life, both big and small,” she said, telling her fellow graduates that she hopes everyone finds simple joys in life. She thanked the people around her for constantly pushing her, with a special note of thanks to her father, who she says worked countless hours, and none of them for himself. “He has done everything for me, and I strive to end up like him.”

She also told her classmates she has a wish for everyone as they move into the next chapter of their lives:

“I wish that wherever your path leads, that you follow your dreams and do it beside the people that you love. And whatever you do, just start.”

Grace Gillespie, the Houston High School Class of 2024 Valedictorian, said that if she could leave any words behind for her fellow graduates, it would be “Remember your childhood and cherish the memories that you made. Remember the laughter, the embarrassing moments, and the times you were just being a kid. I hope those memories you made continue to live on.”

The graduating class selected retired Houston principal Benjamin Howard as their keynote speaker, who said he found his inspiration for his speech through young Emperor penguins, of all things.

“I was not planning on talking about penguins, but when inspiration hits, you got to go with it,” Howard remarked about his unique topic. With the help of drone photographs, Howard explained the connection between the young penguins jumping off a cliff into the Antarctic Ocean with the jump the graduates are also embarking upon.

“Rather than walk across the stage to receive a high school diploma, the young penguins have to jump. It’s what they do to graduate and move on to the next phase of their life,” he said of the dramatic 50-foot jump the penguins make into the unknown. He then told the graduates that like the three types of ‘nestling’ Emperor penguins, so too are they similar to the seniors.

“The first type of nestlings are the ones ready to jump. They look over the edge and without much consideration or hesitation, they jump. They spread their wings as wide as they can and swan dive over the cliff, ready for the impact of the water below,” he said. “The 2nd type of nestling stands back a bit, watches the first penguins jump, and realizing its relatively safe, they jump,” he said, comparing to a strong step forward, but perhaps without as much finesse as their predecessors.

Then he got to the third group. “They watch the others and say, ‘no way, I’m not doing it. There’s no way I’m going over a cliff. I want to go back home.’” He said this particular group actively works against the crowd to get away, but face the momentum of their peers.

“Eventually, they’re forced over the cliff. Their fall isn’t a great swan dive or strong step forward, but more like an awkward roll, head over heels…when you see them hit the water, it’s like a full-on crash. But they rise to the surface, seemingly okay.” He said that no matter which way the nestlings got into the water, the result was the same-now what?

And how does this relate to the graduates? Howard says that like the penguins, there will be graduates who are ready to make the jump and swan dive into life, while others may be a little hesitant and cautious, but deep down, they know it’s time to make that jump. As for those in the third group, Howard says that while there are those who liked high school and seeing their friends, or were maybe involved in a lot of activities, those graduates are just not ready to go, not ready for it to end.

“Despite how you feel about tonight, and the future, you’re all about to cross this stage and start asking the same question-now what?” And while he couldn’t answer that question, he did offer one final thought.

“Just because you may be like one type of penguin for now does not mean that you’re always going to be like that type of penguin. Sometimes, you’re going to swan dive into things; sometimes you’ll be hesitant and cautious; and other times, you’ll want things to stay exactly the way they were. None of these are better or worse than the other. They’re just different And it’s all okay.”

The speeches were followed by a poignant rose ceremony in which the graduates honored those in the audience that supported them and a special video presentation prepared by Houston High School Business Teacher Kristopher Wagoner, highlighting the past year.

Then it was time to pass out the diplomas, and this year, Houston added in notes of thanks from the graduates to family, friends, and their fellow graduates.