The names of fourteen students were called to receive their diplomas Saturday evening at the St. Regis High School graduation commencement ceremony. Diana Gingerich, one of four individuals to address the graduates, recalled when they first entered her class in the sixth grade and found two bookmarks on their desk: one with the word respect, the other with the word responsibility.

Gingerich said that stressed the importance of those two words throughout their time in her class and again was reminding them of the importance one last time. She said that through the years, she said that she's seen them embrace the words whether they've realized it or not.

Gingerich told the students to "go forward into your futures...and most importantly, make yourselves proud."

Salutatorian Heather Pruitt addressed the class next noting that they have anxiously looked forward to this day and how after 13 years, they now had access to a handful of opportunities they could only dream about.

Valedictorian Tyler Cheesman challenged students to never give up. After planning what she thought would be the most remarkable senior year, several challenges pushed her to a point where she was ready to give up including missing basketball due to her health, losing her horse and other circumstances. However, Cheesman said that she recalled the cowgirl tough motto: Even though you've been bucked, kicked, bit and stomped, never give up. She said even though everything around you might be falling apart you have to "strive forward in life."

Cheesman challenged students to make the most of everything that comes their way as they step out into their lives after high school. Cheesman is headed to the University of Montana to study wildlife biology.

Former principal John Almquist was invited back to the ceremony to speak. He was there when the students were in seventh grade. He joked that he wasn't sure why they invited him back to speak as they didn't seem to listen to anything he said when he was there.

Almquist said that for the students to succeed in life they would need three key ingredients: education, work ethic and compassion. And whether students go into a field of work or college after graduation, Almquist felt that these still applied.

Two students from the class will be entering the service. Brianna Managhan has enlisted in the United States Air Force and Morgan Hill has joined the U.S. Marines. Zane Worrall has plans to attend the Lincoln College of Technology in Denver to study auto mechanics. Susan Martin will be taking classes through Kaplan University to pursue a career in special education.

Principal Edward Huenemann told the students that while they have done wonderful things, the best is yet to come. He said that while high school graduation is an important "rung on the ladder of life" and is certainly a milestone, it's not the top rung.