At Commencement ceremonies on June 14, the 22 Orcas High School graduates wore blue caps and gowns, with a purple stole if they’d maintained a 3.25 grade point average, a blue collar if they were members of the National Honor Society – recognized for their scholarship, leadership, character and service – and candy leis if they were members of Key Club, the high school service organization. They wore high heels and flip-flops, skirts, leggings and shorts under their gowns, and gleefully threw their mortarboards in the air before leaving commencement.

The gym was packed as Lizz Hanks led high school and community members in playing “Pomp and Circumstance” as the graduates entered the gym. Orcas Middle School/High School Principal Barbara Kline asked the parents of the graduates to stand to identify themselves, and also asked former graduates of Orcas High to rise to be recognized.

Kline thanked families, businesses and the community at large for the sound system at the gym, the recent landscaping work on the school grounds, and for providing the bond money to purchase the screen that showed the graduating class’ s video.

Janet Brownell, President of the Orcas Island School District Board said to the group, “You are our future, we are entrusting you with our future.”

Superintendent Glenn Harris said that the graduates have shown the strength to realize there are no guarantees, “but if you trust in life, it means somewhere inside yourself, you can find the strength to go forward.”

Kline noted that the graduates were awarded some $63,000 in scholarships from the community. She acknowledged the over-2,000 hours they’ve given in service of the Key Club motto, “Caring is a way of life.”

Cara Peacock, Student Body President, said as she looked at her fellow graduates, “You all have made me who I am today,” and with her sister Jenole, sang a song she had written, “Take a look at us now.”

Salutatorian Anthony Ghazel thanked all the parents for opening their homes to him and his classmates.

Valedictorian Melissa Moran-Hodge thanked parents for their “cooking, cleaning, coaching and caring,” and said their involvement in education at Orcas schools have been “an example you’ve demonstrated for us that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”

The class’s former middle school math and science teacher, Peter Vraspir, gave the Commencement Address. After recalling their days as eighth-graders, Vraspir spoke of lessons he’s learned while living in interior Alaska. The salmon have taught him the value of community collaboration and the beauty of the small scale, the lessons of swimming against the current and taking a leap of faith, guided by an internal compass. From the mountain goats he’s learned to climb incredible mountains and take the road less traveled, to be agile and fearless but not arrogant. Sharing the road with moose have taught him to recognize opportunity and use what is available to one’s own advantage. He advised the students fondly, “Wilt not, shirk not, swim well, sleep well, smile and wave.”