PHS seniors receive diplomas in unique ceremony
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman / Valley Journal The PHS Class of 2020 awaits somewhat patiently for their names to be called.
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman / Valley Journal Trevor Sanderson takes a moment for a photo op after receiving his diploma.
Rob Zolman
Violet Anderson watches the ceremony.
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PHS grad Davis Smith waves to his fellow classmates.
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Polson High School Principal Peter Hamilton welcomes the Class of 2020 and guests.
Rob Zolman
Lanterns fly upward to honor students.
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Rob Zolman
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POLSON – The scoreboard read 20:20 in honor of the graduating Class of 2020 at Polson High School on Sunday afternoon as the school held its graduation at the Polson Sports Complex.
On the field, 108 graduates and their guests sat in socially distant groups around the track to participate in unique graduation ceremony.
Polson High School Principal Peter Hamilton said, in his opening remarks, that the last three months have been a “huge challenge” due to COVID-19, and because the students worked hard and graduated despite the pandemic, they have proven that they “can do anything.”
“The challenges of life are the best part. They are an opportunity to learn, grow and figure things out,” said Hamilton. “You have proven to yourselves you can do anything. Endless possibilities are ahead for you.”
Violet Anderson sang the National Anthem and Chief Cliff Singers sang and drummed the Ktunaxa Honor Song. The graduation ceremony was a mix of both virtual and in-person celebrations.
Valedictorian and salutatorian speeches were not given during the in-person ceremony. The valedictorians were Violet Anderson, Mesa McKee, Gwen Seeley, Joseph McDonald, Josie Salois and Davis Smith, and the salutatorian was Trey Kelley. The graduates recorded speeches prior to the start of the in-person ceremony that were broadcast on the school’s website. For those who were unable to attend, the ceremony was broadcast live on KQRK 99.7 radio and live streamed on the PHS website.
This year’s commencement speaker was PHS science teacher Kyle Dunn who urged the senior class to “expect the unexpected.”
“As graduates of the pandemic, understand you don’t have that much control in life,” said Dunn. “You can’t really control when unexpected things happen to you. The only things we can control is our attitude and actions toward those things.”
The Polson Rotary Club released a purple sky lantern for every student as they received their diploma. The graduation festivities concluded in a town-wide car parade led by the Polson Fire Department and Polson Police Department. The seniors, in decorated cars, trucks and SUVS, passed through town honking and waving at hundreds of cheering family and friends.
The Polson High School Class of 2020: Joseph Nathaniel Agliano, Brayleighna Renea Aldrich, Violet Melissa Anderson, Elizabeth Rose Ayers, Kedrick Daniel Baker, Cameron Ryan Ball, Hayden Wade Bennett, Zane Morgan Benson, Cole Raymond Bick, Hailey Lynn Bissegger, Elisabeth Anne Bjorge, Damon Nathaniel Bliler, Keegan J. Michael Brackey, Shaeley Dayle Brown, Jarod Robert Calley, Cali Skye Cannon, David Emilio Castillo, Gator Lee Cheff, Dakota Christopher Chinnock, Nicholas Alexander Cleveland, Garrett Anthony Croft, Hailee Chase Crumley, Tabitha Cwincy Lynn Curry, Vayda Marie Cutfinger, Erich James Dale, Dugan Dale Davis, Adeline Elizabeth Day, Devin Asher Day, Colby Scott Devlin, Johna Patrese Dhuyvetter, Megan Lynn Dolence, Elijah Orion Edmo, Kendal Ivan Forman-Webster, Trystan James Garcia, Grace Elizabeth Garcia-Quinones, Gunner Woods Grisak, Amber Star Hanneman, Reed Norman Harbin, Madilyn Rylee Hasse, Shannen Kylie Helm, Kasen Carnell Heninger,
Daizey Leona Hewankorn, Zachary Steven Hoxie, Casady Raye Hubbard, Haden Dean Jaeger, Spring Michelle Johnston, Bo Allen Kelley, Trey Joseph Kelley, Summer Rose Kovarik, Seth Michael Lake, Kaitlynn Marie Lamphere, Connor William Lanier, Anton Mahki Lefthand, Corbyn Jacque Thomas Lund, Julie Ann Magoon, Juliana Olivia Marengo, Reagan Lee McDermott, Joseph Gray McDonald, Mesa Bryn McKee, Gabriel
Christan Mergenthaler, Cody Michael Merritt, Alexandria Ann Miller, Thatcher Thomas Mullan, Shayla Natasha Olson, Tayler Elizabeth Owens, Lena Janae Pawlowski, Zachary Ryan Peck, Daniel Lloyd Pepion, Hailie Mariea Perdue, Autumn Anne Piper, Micaela Marie Redwine, Andrew Michael Reed,
Gwenevere Star Reese, Julia Miyazaki Reiners, Alexia Brianne Rockholt, Marlyn Robert Rodriguez, Alexia Louise Rodrique-Kienitz, Gracie Lissette Rouse, Josie Lynn Salois, Andrew Jacob David Salomon, Samuel William Salomon, Trevor James Sanderson, Trevor Jon Schultz, Gwen Eileen Seeley, Brian Randal Siemens, Ajalin Chunna Simshaw, Kenton Nicholas Sisler, Bridger Dean Smith, Davis Hamilton Smith, Halie Maureen Smith, Kodey James Solomon, Larz Terynn Sorrell, SMXE Harley Roy Sorrell, Trevor Jon Sorrell, Meghan Marie Speckert, Bella Mary Spencer, Isaac Victor Stene, William Joe Spotted Eagle JR.,
Owen Wesley Targerson, Misty Dawn Tenas, Halli Marie Tyler, Kaleb John Unger, McKenna Mercedes Walker, Ryker Thomas Wenderothm Kadence J. Sonny Whitworth, Esmé Brynn Yarbrough, Joshua Michael Young and Sharmaine Lee Anne Zempel.
