Houston highlights student perseverance over adversity during 2023 graduation

WASILLA — Houston Junior Senior High School's class of 2023 has been through a lot over the past few years. They’ve had to persevere through numerous unique challenges on top of the usual demands of high students life, including the 2018 earthquake which rendered the high school facility unusable and forced a sudden fusion with the middle school, and the COVID-19 Pandemic that severely restricted social interactions.

Houston Junior Senior High School Principal Ben Howard marveled at his students for overcoming all the various obstacles and emerging with a newfound sense of strength and solidarity.

“The single most important thing that they created was a legacy of community,” Howard said.

“Our graduates endured and succeeded as a community. No matter what was thrown at them they banded together stronger each time.”

Salutatorian Abbie Baird praised her peers for making it through all the hardships. She said the lessons they gained during these difficult times will only further their resolve to achieve great things.

“We are fierce and resilient,” Baird said. “Even though it feels like one thing after another continues to happen, we still have managed to persevere through and even come out the other end thriving.”

Valedictorian Josie Reintsma shared a similar sentiment. She told her peers that they now have the tools they need to carve their own paths and reach their full potential as strong and independent individuals.

“You are bound for greatness,” Reintsma said. “

This year’s keynote speaker was Father Peter Kamilos who’s taught in the district since 2006 and worked at Houston for three years. He emphasized the importance of relationships

“Your success in life will depend on how much attention and care you invest in these relationships,” Kamilos said.”Nothing that you do will give you greater returns on your time, your money, or your energy. While not all our investments payout, in the long term and overall we receive far more in return than we invest. So, invest in people.”

During the rose ceremony, students handed roses to their loved ones and shared emotional hugs before returning to their seats. Student speaker Jasper Ross credited their success to the network of support comprised of family, friends, staff, coaches, and others that helped them reach this major milestone and helped prepare them for the rest of their lives.

“Thank you all, once again, for supporting us through the high school years,” Ross said.

2023 graduations across the district are being live-streamed and can be found through links posted on each school’s homepage.

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