EVERETT – As if parents don’t feel old enough when their child graduates, Marysville Getchell principal Richard Zimmerman jokingly reminded them at the school’s ceremony Wednesday at Angel of the Winds Arena.
These grads never had to look at maps, deal with a VCR or lick a stamp.
But enough about the past, he said. This class had some of the best sports teams in the school’s nine-year history. Looking to the future, 96 percent of the 360 grads are going to college or a trade school, joining the military or going to work. Along with their diploma, 35 are getting Associated in Arts two-year college degrees, and they received almost $1 million in scholarships.
“The future looks very bright,” Zimmerman said.
Valedictorian David Samaniego, who received an impressive 12 awards and scholarships, said with all of the changes that happened at MG the past four years, this class had to learn to embrace change, and that helped them grow as people and form new bonds.
The other valedictorian speaker, Amalea Lovold, said it’s finally time to move on, after getting up, going to school, doing homework and going to bed for 13 years. She encouraged her classmates to pursue whatever they are passionate about.
Student speaker Nathan Weller said as they take their first step in to adult life to make good choices and use your heart as well as your mind.
The other student speaker, Tina Do, said for her fellow graduates to look around and take it all in.
“We made it,” she said.
Senior class president Mikhail Montez read her poem that said, in part, that even though they will go on to do a lot of great things, at some point they will wish they could go back to the days when they were kids.
Performers included the MG wind ensemble, Mikayla Himmelberger singing the National Anthem, and Victoria Steward singing and playing piano on “Time to Say Goodbye.”
Other valedictorians are: Dior Nazarov, Lyra Kugler and Gabe Coe. Salutatorians are Vitaliy Akiemenko, Sydney Norton, Alyssa Hagar and Delaney Smith. Other class officers are Smith, vice president; Imuetinyan Idahosa, secretary; and treasurer Nathan Horton.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
Marysville school board member Vanessa Edwards was a huge hit with the MG crowd, getting hugs from many of the graduates.
