Soap Lake Class of 2025 faced trials, came out stronger
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 4 months AGO
Soap Lake High School seniors enter the gym May 31 for graduation.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Soap Lake High School Principal William Britt addresses the Class of 2025 for the last time May 31.
Members of the Soap Lake High School Class of 2025 turn the tassels on their caps, symbolizing the transition from students to graduates, May 31.
New Soap Lake High School graduate Lilly Monroy, left, chats with Sinai Gonzalez after graduation May 31.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | June 12, 2025 4:00 PM
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Class of 2025 has not had an easy time getting where it is, said principal William Britt.
“This journey, your journey, has been one to remember, from the late nights spent on homework to the anxiety of exams to moments when everything felt overwhelming,” Britt said. “You have made it all with grit, humor and heart. Statistically, many of you weren't expected to be here, and yet here you are walking proudly, head held high, chest out, proving to the world that I am someone. I am great. I will not be another statistic.”
The 27 seniors who graduated May 31 persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, Britt said, as well as facing personal challenges and setbacks. But the students who struggle become creative thinkers and world-changers, he said.
“I can say that with conviction because I lived it,” Britt said. “I know what it's like to hustle to meet ends meet … I know what it's like to run out of food stamps and to rely on a friend’s home for a warm meal, a clean shower and a pillow to sleep at night. We moved often when rent became too high, which meant starting over at new schools over and over again. When I look at you, I just don't see students. I see myself.”
Of the students in the class of 2025, seven had gone their entire school career through Soap Lake schools, said school counselor Jeremiah Baergen, and several were multi-generational Eagles whose parents and grandparents had also graduated from Soap Lake. One of those was ASB President Addison Frazier. Frazier read some dreams her classmates had written about in the fifth grade: dreams of becoming a dancer or a professional athlete or a zookeeper. Those dreams may not have stayed the same, Frazier said, but other dreams are out there for the taking.
“Life isn't something that happens to us,” Frazier said. “It's something we build every day with our choices, energy and passion. Remember to take it all in, whether it's joining on your friend group, helping someone in need, or chasing a dream or simply laughing a little louder. As soon as we step into this new start in life, don't wait for the perfect moment to jump in. This is it right now; this is our perfect moment.”
Valedictorian Sophia Opalko was not a lifelong Soap Lake student, having moved to town seven years ago, she said.
“This diploma is not just paper,” she said. “It is proof you're capable, you're worthy and you're just getting started. Be proud of what you've accomplished, and even more proud of what you'll become. This is not the end. This is just the beginning of your story.”
“The average life expectancy is about 75 years,” Britt said. “You spent 18 years of those growing up with us today, going out there and meeting your mark … Congratulations, Class of 2025. You’ve got this.”
Soap Lake High School Principal William Britt addresses the Class of 2025 for the last time May 31.
Members of the Soap Lake High School Class of 2025 turn the tassels on their caps, symbolizing the transition from students to graduates, May 31.
New Soap Lake High School graduate Lilly Monroy, left, chats with Sinai Gonzalez after graduation May 31.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
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