SANDPOINT — At times funny, at others personal and others joyous, the Lake Pend Oreille High School graduation ceremony is like no other.

Thursday, the school celebrated its 29 graduates, 28 of whom took part in the school's commencement ceremony.

In welcoming the crowd that packed the auditorium at the Sandpoint Events Center, LPOHS principal Chris Davis told those gathered that the school was special, as were those who graduate from it.

"Tonight is more than handing out diplomas," the first-year LPO principal said. "It's about celebrating stories, growth, resilience, and the incredible journey that each of these students has taken to get here."

Then, turning to the soon-to-be graduates, Davis congratulated them and told them she was proud of all they had achieved, not just this year but throughout their educational journey.

"All right, my peeps, let me see your eyes," she said, smiling broadly. "You did it. Through early mornings and long days, through moments when you were motivated and moments you were not. Through challenges, setbacks, and everything that life threw your way, you found a way to keep going, and now you're here. Look around and really take it in."

She told the graduates she was proud of them, telling them to be proud of themselves as well.

"You showed up, you put in the work and you stayed with it, even when it was tough and you should be incredibly proud of that," she added. "Not everyone makes it to this point, because not everyone has the dedication and the commitment that it takes."

They are special, they have strength, and they are resilient. They are jokesters, deep thinkers, hard workers and quiet leaders, and who is which sometimes depended on the day. They worked through a year of uncertainty and changes; staying true to themselves and showing up for each other, Davis said.

"We're a family," she said. "This year asked a lot of us and you handled it like a boss. There's a quote that reminds me of you: 'Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny.' When I look at you, I don't see ordinary. I see determination, perseverance, and heart. Now you're stepping into what's next, and the truth is the future is yours to shape."

Among the students speaking was Kota Burke, who noted that when he first came to LPOHS three years ago, he didn't want anything to do with school and just wanted to be a class clown. And, for his first two years, that's just what he was, Burke said.

But despite the challenges he threw out, despite the disinterest, the teachers and staff — and fellow LPO students — were there for him.

"But even after all the stress and chaos I caused, no one at LPO gave up on me," Burke said. "Even though the LPO school might not be the biggest, we have the biggest support system and the best family anybody could ask for."

After jokingly being told he was a mix between an otter and a golden retriever because of his boundless energy, Burke recalled he later had a talk with that teacher and had "a real conversation."

"That talk stuck with me and he helped me realize … there will always be people who will stick by my side and that's when I knew I was meant to be at LPO," he said.

It was then he began to realize he wanted more and, as before, his LPO family was there supporting him. He went from a straight-F student to a straight-A student — leading him to be where he is today: graduating a year early.

"LPO didn't just get me back on track," Burke said. "It gave me a new perspective on life. I became a part of a family I didn't even know I needed. Without LPO, I don't know who I'd be today, but I know it wouldn't be the person standing here right now. This place has helped me grow so much."

In reading his son Jack's speech, Bart Gutke said it was his privilege to read what his son wrote.

"LPO has done wonderful things for me in my life," Jack Gutke wrote. "Before I came to LPO, I never imagined I'd be graduating high school, but LPO, the teachers, the students, and my friends have all made that possible for me."

Peppered with facts about animals and insects, Gutke's speech said those at the school helped him realize both his strengths and his weaknesses, that who he was mattered and that he should be proud of who he was. He considers himself lucky to have attended the school, calling it a community where everyone can be exactly who they are.

Because of LPO, he has gone from hiding in his coat at the back of a classroom to joking and laughing with friends and being an active member of the class, sharing what he knows and being celebrated for it.

"The teachers here have helped me learn how to communicate, to work hard, and to reach my goals," Burke wrote. "LPO has helped me push my boundaries and try things I never thought I would. I feel so very lucky to have attended LPO and been taught by the best teachers in the district. Also crows and ravens can recognize human faces and hold grudges against those who harm them, so be nice to the crows."

The final student speaker, Zoe Timblin, also graduated a year early to give her a jump start on a career as an electrician. Both are something her younger self couldn't have imagined.

"Growing up wasn't always simple … There were days when life felt heavier than homework, and days when showing up took more strength than anyone realized," Timblin told the crowd. "But at some point, I made a choice. I wasn't going to let the hard parts define me. I learned how to push through, how to stay focused, and how to keep moving, even when it felt impossible."

While attending LPO didn't magically solve everything, Timblin said it did give her the space to figure out who she wanted to be and gave her the support system that helped make it possible.

"While I did the work, I became stronger and I became more confident," she told the crowd. "I kept showing up and the person I am today? I'm proud of her because I love her."

Because of LPO, Timblin said graduating early feels right.

"It also feels like the first step toward the life I have worked so hard to create," she added before sharing tales of classmates, life at LPO and teachers. "…Thank you all for being a part of this unforgettable chapter of our lives."

The ceremony, unique to Lake Pend Oreille High School, not only celebrates the students as a graduating class but as individuals. Teachers honor each student individually, taking time to note what is special about each of them, their journey and what they mean to the staff and their classmates.

Some were recognized for their artistic skills or their deep knowledge of animals. Some were celebrated for the joy they brought to classmates and staff, always finding a way to make the day better and brighter.

And, as each student was called to the side of the stage from where the graduates were seated, each was personally remembered by a staff member with personally selected gifts tailored to them. Some received tools designed to help them in their future careers; others received a book, a plant that had decorated a favorite teacher's classroom or a painting that one student had insisted stay hung on the wall because it added meaning to their day.

Part of the tradition for the individualized sendoff is rooted in the school's mission to develop supportive relationships with the students in its care. Another part is to celebrate the students' drive and determination and the amazing people they are, Davis said.

"These students all mean so much to us," she added.

Graduating from LPO were Addison Bates, Iris Bell, Skyler Bertolucci, Xzander Blackstad, Chloe Envik, Braeden Farrar, Jack Gutke, Ariel Haworth, Liaden Mays, Mary Mills, Corbin Montague, Aiden Owens, Amia Severns, Ali Seward, Zoe Timblin, Ryker Tucker, Kota Burke, Caitlyn Cooke, Rion Cosaro, Gavin Creamer, Josh Holub, Shailey Jackson, Jason Lambie, Miller Lefever, Alexis Parra, Brighson Prescott, Onalisa Propst, Orion Reetz and Jailyn Weber.

    Lake Pend Oreille High School officer manager Belinda Wilson helps a student adjust their graduation cap prior to the start of Thursday's commencement for the Class of 2026.
  

    Members of Lake Pend Oreille High School's graduating class listen to a speech during Thursday's commencement.
  

    LPOHS graduates give a standing ovation to retiring teacher Rand Rosecrans during Thursday's graduation ceremony.
  

    Kota Burke gives a speech during Lake Pend Oreille High School's commencement on Thursday.
  

    Bart Gutke reads his son Jack's graduation speech as the LPOHS graduate looks on during Thursday's commencement exercise.
  

    LPOHS seniors listen as counselor Sara Gosling celebrates a classmate during Thursday's graduation ceremony.
  

    LPOHS social studies teacher David Miles II talked about a student and their habit of treating the start of the school day as a suggestion while a poster of their late notes sits in the foreground.
  

    LPOHS principal Chris Davis presents Addison Bates with her diploma at Thursday's graduation ceremony.