SOAP LAKE — With just under 30 seniors turning their tassels on Saturday Soap Lake High School’s class of 2018 isn’t the biggest in the area. Sure, they don’t have the numbers of an Ephrata or Moses Lake High School, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in genuine camaraderie and respect for one another and all of their accomplishments.

“For the most part this class has grown up together. Most of us have known each other since before preschool,” valedictorian Raven Bevers said during her graduation speech. “That’s the perks of a small school and a small town. We had the opportunity to know the kids we went to school with, before we even went to school.”

This year’s class received over $115,000 in scholarships, a number that is expected to keep on going up over the coming weeks and months. With graduating seniors like Bevers, who held a 4.0 GPA during her high school career and will be attending the University of Washington, and Austin Herrera, a star on the regional rodeo circuit, there is little doubt the SLHS class of 2018 will be an accomplished bunch when all is said and done.

“We have faced obstacles that threatened to crush us. Instead we laughed until we cried. We became professional procrastinators, overslept, underslept and then stayed up all night to finish what we put off in the first place,” joked salutatorian Karen Bastida. “By being here today it is clear that all of our stress and hard work has paid off.”

Some of the seniors will be going on to college. Some will be immersing themselves directly in the workforce. Whatever the path the graduates choose to go down now that they have finally received their coveted diplomas, their Soap Lake roots will be remain.

“Your small town has shaped you but not defined you. And you will have something that will be great and special and others will not. Build yourself. Pave a new path as you leave your small town. Remember Soap Lake will always be here waiting for you with open arms,” said faculty speaker Tony Blankenship.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.