RITZVILLE — “Exude compassion.”

That was the advice given to Lind-Ritzville High School seniors at their graduation ceremony Saturday by LRHS history teacher and guest speaker Bryce Court.

“When I say to do that, I mean it should be the defining attribute of your character, the thing you are and do by accident,” Court said. “And I believe compassion should be separated from synonyms like love and charity. Compassion is distinguishable from love because, while I know it's difficult to love those whom you strongly disagree with, you can always show those darn angry fools compassion.”

A total of 25 Lind-Ritzville seniors made the transition out of high school Saturday afternoon at the Gilson Gym across from their alma mater. Between them, those students had earned better than half a million dollars in scholarships, the graduation program proclaimed, and RHS Counselor Kayla Walker read each student’s list of scholarships during the ceremony.

LRHS Principal Kevin Terris began the ceremony by welcoming the seniors and their families, as well as the Ritzville and Lind school boards. He then launched into what he said was a Lind-Ritzville tradition, calling out an accomplishment and asking students who could claim it to stand. Students rose to acknowledge that they had earned college credit while still in high school, participated in Future Farmers of America or attended Lind-Ritzville schools all 12 years of their education, among others.

“If you ever performed in the Lind-Ritzville marching band in the Spokane Lilac festival, please stand,” Terris said. “If you competed in the (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) state golf tournament please stand. If you could find your way home, get a good meal or at least say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in a Spanish-speaking village, and if this is because of (LRHS Spanish teacher) Mrs. (Kathy) McAnally, please stand.”

Salutatorian Raegan Snider took the podium next.

“I can say with confidence that the class of 2023 is the dorkiest, goofiest and greatest class that has graduated from Lind-Ritzville high school,” Snider said. “Throughout my past 12 years, my classmates and I have learned many vital and valuable life lessons. For instance, Hayden Melcher and Seth Miller learned in the fifth grade that purple glue sticks do not taste like grape suckers.”

The role of valedictorian was shared by Hunter Cameron, Taylor Galbreath and David Hinkle. The valedictory trinity took turns addressing the gathering. Cameron spoke first, remembering the impact of the pandemic on their high school years.

“COVID really did affect our high school experience,” he said. “I remember all us little freshman walking in and trying to decide which of us would take one for the team. That was the longest two weeks in my life. It felt more like two years. The break itself was fun, but it sure got boring.”

“This year has been filled with plans,” Galbreath said in turn. “Plans for homecoming and attempting to plan prom, plans for making it to the last day of school, to pass senior year. But let's not forget how important it is to simply live in the moment.”

Hinkle rounded out the joint address.

“Not long ago, a common phrase you'd hear was ‘you're living in uncertain times.’ While some may see uncertainty as a risk, I see it as, honestly, making mistakes will help you grow as a person. We all sometimes make mistakes as part of the learning process. Getting out of your comfort zone isn't supposed to be easy.”

When the time came for diplomas to be distributed, the students crossed the stage one by one to receive their sheepskins from Lind School Board Chairman Adam Labes and Ritzville School Board Chairman Reid Phillips. As each student came forward, their future plans — whether college, entering the workforce or serving a church mission – was announced along with their name.

In his speech, Court exhorted the students to embrace what they do wholeheartedly, whatever it might be.

“If you choose to bring passion into your work, your schooling, and your daily choices,” he said, “you will find that those become more compelling and more rewarding. For work done well is rewarding … If your job or your schooling is simply a paycheck, or a box to check off, you're spending 99% of your time waiting for that moment when you get to open up your bank statement and say, ‘Wow, I'm a cheap date.’ But if your job is something you pour your heart into you, you say ‘I can't believe they pay me for this.’”

Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.

The Lind-Ritzville High School Class of 2023

Jessica J. Besel

Hunter Dean Cameron * §

Hannah Ann-Marie Colbert * §

Hunter Stephen Dinkins * §

Blake Esser

Chase Galbreath*§

Taylor Madison Galbreath * §

David I. Hinkle * §

Nicholas Hunter Labes

Karl Lillegard-Ward

Hayden Robert Melcher * §

Cooper Ray Michael Miller * §

Myra Miller * §

Seth Miller

Cole C. O'Brien

Jasmine Marie Olson §

Mia Rouleau

Hunter Rushing

Carson Shaver

Olivia Marie Simpson

Logan Skaggs

Raegan Snider *

Hayden D. Stone

Jahteya Taylor

Cameron Jean Wood * §

• Denotes Honor Cord - 3.6 and above GPA

§ Denotes National Honor Society Member