Residents of Moab said goodbye to graduating seniors from Grand County High School Thursday evening.
On a warm early summer evening, 99 graduates made the short walk across the stage and received diplomas, concluding their high school days forever.
To start the evening, Student Body President Zakariah Hazlett welcomed all in attendance and wished good luck upon his fellow graduates. Peggy Nicense, who has worked for Grand County High School for over three decades, was awarded the Circle of Honor Award by Donna Brownell.
Salutatorian Spencer Smith and Valedictorian Udit Mayank Bhavsar then spoke to the crowd.
“Graduation is like blowing seeds off of a dandelion,” Bhavsar said. “Even though we are all going our separate ways, wherever we land we will grow new futures and make new memories.”
Dr. Aubrey Holderness then gave the commencement speech after a choir number entitled “I Hope You Dance” by senior choir members. Holderness gave graduates five suggestions for success:
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- Choose your behavior, you choose your consequence.
- Success in life should not only be measured by money but by actions.
- No one can make you unhappy except yourself.
- Successful people learn from mistakes.
- Your success is measured on an individual basis.
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Holderness was the graduating senior’s seventh grade Utah History teacher. He filled the position on a temporary basis for just one year while a colleague took a one-year leave of absence. In that year he had a great impact on the lives of those that graduated Thursday.
Principal Stephen Hren then stood and introduced the Class of 2012 to the audience. В
