Krogmeier, Jelden named co-valedictorians for Class of 2018

    Forty members of the Holyoke High School Class of 2018 earned their diplomas Sunday, May 13, in front of friends and family in the HHS new gym.
    Classmates Luke Krogmeier and Anna Jelden both earned 4.0 grade point averages and were named co-valedictorians.
    Krogmeier commended Holyoke for encouraging students to not just be anything they want to be, but “everything they want to be.” Cheerleaders can be in Knowledge Bowl, football players can play Dungeons and Dragons, and so on. “We are all celebrities in Holyoke,” he added.
    Jelden encouraged her classmates to remember their roots in Holyoke. “Today we close a chapter and start a new one,” she said.
    Dominique Penzing received the female citizenship award from Susan Roll Walter of the American Legion Auxiliary.
    The male citizenship award recipient was Tyler Lamm, as presented by Larry Stein of the American Legion Post No. 90.
    Holyoke JR/SR High Principal Susan Ortner addressed the students one last time before they graduated. “I challenge you to be the very best person you can be all the days of your life. You each have what it takes to meet the challenges of the future.”
    Assisting Ortner with the presentation of diplomas and scholarships were Superintendent John McCleary, counselor Angela Powell, school board president Pat Wiebers and school board vice president Dusty Sprague.
    Also on hand to help with commencement were junior class grand marshals Kaylee Camblin and Cash Adler and ushers Kyra Loutensock, Brenna Sullivan, Keegan Shaw and Alex Vieselmeyer.
    Dozens of white roses tipped with the class color, cobalt, were given out by graduates to family, friends and teachers during the rose ceremony Sunday.
    Each class member placed a red rose on a chair in the front of the room that was left empty in memory of classmate Cassidy Hale. At 15 years old, Hale was killed in an automobile/pedestrian accident in September 2015. The roses and a cap and gown were presented to the Hale family.
    Special music on Sunday included “A Million Dreams” sung by the select choir and “The Torch Burns Bright” played by the high school band.
    In class president Dominique Penzing’s farewell speech, she told the class, “Whatever you do, do it well and with a loving heart.” Even though their rule of Holyoke High School is over, “Our next rule is the world. Go conquer it,” she said.
    Click here for details about graduates’ future plans as well as scholarships and grants earned by the class.