Palmer High seniors encourage peers to keep moving forward, tackle their fears

The wind and weather cooperated for the Palmer High School outdoor graduation at Machetanz Field Tuesday evening.

Senior members of the PHS Jazz Choir sang the national anthem while wearing their blue robes and white sashes on the football field. Master of Ceremonies Jacob Gardino welcomed friends, family and PHS faculty to the ceremony. The graduating class of 2025 finish this chapter of their lives as they prepare for the next with words of encouragement from classmates and teachers.

“This diploma is not the finish line. It’s the launch pad,” speaker Greyson Lambertson said.

Lambertson explained that attending PHS and making new friends and creating memories motivated him to become a better person. He acknowledged that high school isn't always easy and overcoming those challenges are what taught him the most. Lambertson described success isn’t about getting everything right, but showing up and trying again.

“When I look out at this crowd, I don’t just see classmates, I see memories,” Lambertson said.

Leilani Barber faced her fears of public speaking as she addressed the crowd and encouraged her classmates to tackle their own fears head on. By not facing their fears, Barber explained that fear can lead to hatred and anger. She explained that helping others made her feel good and have a purpose, something that brought her out of her darkest times.

“I believe that love is a lot stronger than hatred, that if we treated each other with a bit more empathy, compassion and respect, this world would be a better place,” Barber said.

Speaker Brooke Hronkin highlighted living in the moment. She asked her classmates to look back to elementary school and middle school and remember the times when all they could think about was growing up and graduating high school. Hronkin challenged her fellow graduates to slow down and enjoy the moment, and not always worry about the future.

“Moments pass us by without warning, and it always happens that the moments we remember aren’t the biggest or the loudest, but rather the ones that just pass us by, the in-between moments,” Hronkin said.

PHS art teacher Anna Folsom was the night’s keynote speaker. A 1997 graduate of PHS herself, Folsom recognized how her life has come full circle in being able to teach and work at the school. She thanked and highlighted students across different activities, sports and fields of study for their dedicated work and continued success, stretching from this chapter of life, to the next.

“Remember, it’s the going that matters, and wherever you go, whatever path you take, I know you’ll make it your own,” Folsom said. “Keep going, keep learning, keep dreaming.”

PHS principal David Booth, who is retiring after the school year, asked the seniors to move their tassels from right to left, calling out, “It now gives me great pleasure to present to you, the newest alumni of Palmer High School! Congratulations Class of 2025!”

Blue graduation caps were tossed high in the air, silhouetted against the mountains. Graduates cheered and hugged one another, taking in the moment and letting it all sink in.