Speakers reflect on importance of community during Palmer High virtual graduation

PALMER — High school seniors across the Mat-Su School District have endured similar losses.

Schools closed to students. No extracurricular activities in the spring. Proms cancelled. Virtual graduations.

Rosemary Toro spoke of loss on a much more personal level.

“Personally this year has been the hardest, yet most eye opening year of my life. For those of you who don’t know, I lost my mother at the beginning of the school year. Never in a million years did I think I would live through something like that, I mean no one really does until it happens. But it just proves that you never know what life is going to throw at you,” Toro said.

Toro is one of Palmer High School’s 189 members of the class of 2020, and spoke during Palmer High’s virtual commencement ceremony broadcasted on Tuesday, the scheduled night for the school’s 2020 graduation. But as Toro spoke about loss, she shifted to a common theme throughout Palmer High’s ceremony.

Community.

“This hardship made me realize just how close knit of a community Palmer is. I had so many people from all over the community, friends of friends, complete strangers, all of you, to help me through it. So much love was poured out to my family and I am so thankful,” Toro said.

Toro’s fellow senior Sophia Nowers expressed how the COVID-19 pandemic, state health mandates and the age of social distancing has reminded her about the value of community.

“Really, this quarantine, or social distancing, has been a lesson in how important the people at Palmer High are,” Nowers said. “What’s always struck me the most about Palmer is the community here, how much everyone cares. And that has been demonstrated throughout this whole pandemic, from the continuation of traditions like prom royalty and spirit week, to the adaptation of graduation and classes to this new reality.”

In his opening address, Palmer High principal Paul Reid spoke about how members of the community helped recognize the school’s class of 2020 by hanging banners with photos of the class members throughout downtown Palmer.

“Palmer High School is blessed. We are a true community school and we live in an amazingly supportive community,” Reid siad. “We Are The Moose. The community rallies around this school to celebrate the success of our students, and is always there for support in times of need. I want to thank the local business that support our students’ activities, for the city of Palmer for sharing in the celebration of the graduates by hanging pictures of each graduate down main street in Palmer. Your support is appreciated and it is what sets Palmer apart.”

Reid also used an Albert Einstein quote (“Adversity introduces a man to himself.”) to voice to students how to use adversity to their advantage.

“Adversity builds resilience, and resilience is what sees us through our most difficult times. These are the times that the people closest to us lift us up and help to see us through. Adversity can reveal our true character, and depending on our beliefs and attitude it can build our character,” Reid said.

Palmer High School’s virtual graduation ceremony is one of 13 pre-produced by Mat-Su School District staff. For the complete list, see the district website.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.

Palmer High School class of 2020

Jackson Acree, Samuel Andrew, Briana Antijunti, Easton Armstrong, Veronica Arreola, Nathan Asay, Jayden Aslakson, Isabelle Bailey, Maria Beck, Sophia Benshetler, Janie Besse, Elsa Biddle, Ethan Bleakney, Perrin Britt, Kyleann Bryant, Ryan Buswell, Trenton Callis, Nikayla Chambers, Lea Christensen, Jayden Christiansen, Jace Colburn, Rachel Cooper, Ethan Copp, Zoe Copp Duston Corbin, Morgan Cotter-Eaton, Christopher Cranston-Stuckey, Garrett Creer, Logan Crews, Ervin Cutright, Shandra Cutsforth, Jacob Daniel, Justice Darby, Aurora Davidson, Timberlee Davis, Brigham Dean, Elissa DeBoer, Ilire Demientieff, Nika Demientieff, James Denman, Kaleb DePriest, Lacy Dhone McKinnis, Gabriel Dickens, Luke Dittbrender, Mara Dittbrender, Anthony Espinoza, Rachel Farley, Michael Foote, Jude Franklin, Jordan Fuller, Thomas James Garren-Boise, Dayton Gatewood, Taylor Gephart, Joshua Gibson, Kelsey Giese, Gavin Gordon, Hannah Graham, Meagan Grogan, Justus Gutierrez, Lorin Halberg, Kasidee Hampton, Megan Helgesen, Carson Helm, Jalen Henry, Shawn Henry, Shawn Henry, Tyler Hershman, Torin Hess, Dylan Hose, Peyton Howe, Sierra Howe, Tobin Hushower, Jovanna Ippolito, Emily Jacobsen, Lexis Jasek, Brenda Kelley, Wade Keyes, Iris Kier, Hannah Kilbourne, Cheyenne Kimler, Levi Kirby, Frank Kolerok, Cecil Larson, Cyrus Larsen, Rafe Lawton, Jacob LeCheminant, Madelyn Leingang, J Linder, Michael Lovejoy, Olivia Lundin, Alison Lutz, Emily Mack, Amiqaq Maclean, Lavar Marshall, Stormy McKee, Benjamin McLin, Chase McNutt, Deana McNutt, Madison Metzler, Madison Mitchell-Huckabay, Jesse Monroe, Hayden Morin, Lucas Morton, William Moss, Zoe Murphy, Jaden Neckels, Zoe Nelles, William Nichols, Keagan Norman, Sophia Nowers, Taylor Oldham, Hunter Olson, Sara Oomittuk, Tiernan O’Rourke, Daehee Osiensky, Blake Owens, Eremiah Paaloalo, Cobey Pack, Madeline Park, Gracie Payne, Bailee Peterson, Mitchell Phipps, Grace Piersma, Lance Plummer, Payton Portney, Harlee Pyrah, Destiny Queripel, Maryann Ramsdell, Christopher Reich, Yugissaq Ripke, James Rogers, Jordan Rolston, Nikona Rousseau, Bayley Sandvik, Caitlin Sargeant, Coltin Saunders, Scott Shelton, Tabea Shepler, Briannen Shipley, Uuyaan Shookukwruk, Brady Shults, Taylor Silva, Billy Smith, Larissa Smith, Grace Straughn, Errol Summitt, Natalie Swanson, Sigavaa Tafito, Kaj Taylor, Luke Theisen, Aurora Till, Donna Till, Rosemary Toro, Rachelle Turgoose, Ivy Underhill, Braden VanderWeele, Dawson VanTassel, Riley Vickaryous, Jaida Vroman, Jennifer Wallace, Payton Weaver, Aimee Wells, Alyson Werner, Cale Winder, Jaron Wood, Sara Woody, Nicholas Young, Allen Zirkle Jr.