Palmer High celebrates class of 2021 on the Machetanz Field turf

PALMER — The Palmer High Class of 2021 became the first graduating class to receive their high school diplomas on the turf at Machetanz Field at Palmer High on a sunny Tuesday evening. The 128 graduates stood in front of a packed grandstand and celebrated the culmination of their education in the Mat-Su Borough School District.

Brittyn Werner played the national anthem and emcee Dani Farley began the ceremonies by holding a moment of silence for Devin Miller, a classmate who was killed in an automobile accident. Farley began her remarks by illustrating the difficulties of their last year in schools during a global pandemic. Farley also shared a personal story about perseverance and how the community at Palmer High helped her through that difficulty.

“I came out as gay to my friends and family during my junior year of high school. That was the hardest yet proudest moment of my life. Finally being able to be my true self felt amazing but it was scary. I had hateful messages sent to me and even eggs thrown at my car after coming out. I’m not sharing this story to make all of you sad, but to give you hope because even through all of my hardships I am here and so are you. We made it,” said Farley. “True happiness comes from being yourself and being around people that encourage you and love you for who you are. I want to thank the staff at Palmer High for never looking at me differently after I shared a part of me. Even after the scariest moment of my life they loved me for me. I believe in you class of 2021. We got through an entire pandemic that took away our senior year but we are still here and we made it, now we are going off into the world.”

Mat-Su School Board Member Jim Hart presented the graduates at the end of the ceremony and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Reese Everett was complimented by Principal Paul Reid prior to student speeches.

Senior track star Sophie Wright mixed sage wisdom in between jokes cracked at classmates, teachers, and even herself.

“This year has been a challenge considering the effects that covid has had on normal everyday life. It has been unpredictable and incredibly challenging at some points. I guess you could liken this year to a race with remarkable highs and lows. Life after graduation is kind of like that, once you can almost see the finish line of success your butt cramps up and it starts to look more like giving up yet you must persevere. I think that the biggest lesson I got out of high school is the importance of racing those around you in order to make yourself the best you can and to learn to grow together,” said Wright.

Wright rattled off a list of experiences shared by the class of 2021 and said that she felt lucky to have grown up in the Mat-Su Valley. Wright thanked the teachers at Palmer High for providing her with the tools to grow.

“Our graduating class of 2021 has been together since the beginning and it’s funny to reminisce about how we all became exceptionally close in this small town of Palmer. It all pretty much started with foursquare in the Sherrod playground,” said Wright. “I’ll see you at the reunion at the Sherrod parking lot. Foursquare? No exception.”

Between Wright and Annika Gagnon, class speaker Callista Whitlack energetically charged her classmates with being heroic. The keynote speaker for the graduation was each of the six retiring staff members at Palmer High. Assistant Principal Garth Morgan, Michele Brown, John Egan, Jan Stortz, Greg Fullmer and Jenny VanDerweele all gave advice to the outgoing class as they enter retirement.

“The most important thing in life isn’t what you do or what you accomplish. The most important thing in life is what you overcome and you’ll overcome great things and some negative things but you will overcome them because you will never quit class of 2021!” said Fullmer.

Fullmer received the most raucous applause of the outgoing staff speakers with his interactive, energetic time in front of the microphone. The student speakers closed with Gagnon, who began her words by recognizing that the ceremonies were held on the traditional lands of the Dena’ina indigenous peoples. Like her classmates before her, Gagnon went down a list of those at Palmer High who she wanted to thank.

“Thank you to the custodians. Thank you for keeping the school clean while we are battling a global pandemic. Your efforts have helped to keep kids healthy and school open. Thank you to the administration. Today we have the privilege of an in person graduation. It is not lost on me that this is the product of the administration’s hard work and organizational skills. Thank you for providing a sense of normalcy and structure during this time of uncertainty. On a personal note I would like to thank our Principal Mr. Reid. He possesses the powerful yet underrated skill of being a good listener and he strives to make school safe for all students and it’s greatly appreciated. Thank you to the counselors for their work to keep kids on track and in school,” said Gagnon.

After seeing the class of 2020’s in-person graduation ceremony fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic, the Palmer High School class of 2021 celebrated the completion of their studies in the Mat-Su Borough School District in style. Laughs and tears were shared under a warm evening and students were not required to wear masks during the ceremony. Audience members chuckled at the mention of social distancing in the crowded stands.

“School, while primarily seen as a place of learning subject matter, is also the place where you learn how to become a good person. For many students at Palmer, high school is a place of security, a place that has heat and guarantees that every student has access to food and clean water. When I say that teachers make the world go around I mean that teachers are the ones who are consistently ensuring the safety of the next generation. I know several teachers at this school that pay out of pocket to make sure that they always have food available for kids who need it. I know more who are always willing to lend an ear to kids who need a trusted adult to talk to. I cannot begin to describe the gratitude that I have for all the time and effort that teachers put into educating,” said Gagnon.

Gagnon quoted her favorite author Toni Morrison in her conclusion.

“Morrison once said that ‘the function of freedom is to free others’ so I ask my fellow grads how will you use this newfound freedom of your high school diploma to free others?”