Mission's Class of 2024: "You are capable of greatness"

KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 6 months AGO

Landon Walks Over Ice prepares to bequeath roses during Mission High's graduation ceremony on Saturday. (Christa Umphrey photo)

Mission High Valedictorian Sackett Andres tells the audience at Saturday's commencement, "with new generation comes new hope for the future." (Christa Umphrey photo)

Klo'E Kipp gives a celebratory fist pump after receiving her diploma Saturday in St. Ignatius. (Christa Umphrey photo)

Paisley Couture gives her mom, Gwen Couture, a hug and a rose during graduation ceremonies Saturday in St. Ignatius. (Christa Umphrey photo)

CONFETTI FLIES as Mission High's Class of 2024 celebrates graduation. (Christa Umphrey photo)

Mission High Salutatorian Ellanah Flat Lip encouraged her classmates to "move toward what matters to you.”

As St. Ignatius High School Principal Shawn Hendrickson bid farewell to 32 graduates Saturday afternoon, he told the audience that this year’s crop had reeled in $1,147,000 in scholarships. “Valley-wide, statewide, nationwide – those are astounding numbers,” he said.

More than 62% of the students standing in the sunshine on the Mission Bulldog football field were planning to attend a college, university of trade school, he said.

“As you move to your next chapter, keep an open mind as you consider your options,” he advised students. “Learning what you don’t like is just as important as learning what you do like.”

Salutatorian Ellanah Flat Lip congratulated her peers. “Through happiness, through pain, through all the emotions, we made it,” she said, adding, “Be happy. Move toward what matters to you.”

Valedictorian Sackett Andres emphasized the closeness of a small town, where “most of you have seen our brothers, our sisters, our aunts, our uncles – even some of our parents – graduate and go through what we’re going through today.”

“What you’re looking at is the next generation of adults in our community and I just want you to look at our class and imagine the potential and success we’ll have and the struggles and hardships we’ll go through,” he said. “I want you to know that the grit and determination we’ve developed will help us through.”

“You matter to everyone and everyone matters to you,” said teacher Jesse Nesper, emphasizing the enduring connection between the Mission Valley and the students who were stepping beyond its borders.

“You are, every one of you, more than you can possibly imagine – you are capable of greatness,” he told the graduates. “I can’t wait to see what you do next.”

And finally, as students began dispersing roses to family members and mentors, Andres told the crowd, “There are not enough words or roses enough to show how thankful we are to everyone here today and those here in spirit – we could not have done this without you.”

Mission High Valedictorian Sackett Andres tells the audience at Saturday's commencement, "with new generation comes new hope for the future." (Christa Umphrey photo)