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Graduating classes head toward bright futures

by Kathleen Woodford Mineral Independent
| June 6, 2017 5:44 PM

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Gordon Hendrick was the guest speaker at Superiors graduation on Sunday, May 28. (Photo by Frankie Kelly).

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The 2017 Superior graduating class. (Photo by Frankie Kelly)

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Nicholas Taryn Ververis was the valedictorian for the Superior graduating class on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Taryn Ververis)

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The Alberton graduating class sits beneath balloons announcing their 2017 graduation. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)

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Denise Juneau who was the State Superintendent of Public Instruction was the guest speaker at Alberton’s graduation on May 28. (Photo by Gus Chambers).

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Mackenzie Spence was the class valedictorian for Alberton’s graduating class. (Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Spence)

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Business teacher, Chad Eichenlaub was the guest speaker at St. Regis graduation on Tuesday, May 30. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).

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The St. Regis graduating class of 2017. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)

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Nick Turnbull was the salutatorian for the Alberton 2017 graduating class. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).

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Courtney Cheesman was the salutatorian for the St. Regis graduating class. Sh was also one of the recipients of the American Legion Scholarship. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).

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Madison Hill was the class valedictorian for the St. Regis 2017 graduating class. She also received the Christine West Science Scholarship, given by Chris West (left). (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)

It was another proud day for Mineral County students, teachers and parents as the 2017 graduating classes took their victory march down the aisle toward the podium where their diplomas waited. Superior and Alberton held their graduations on Sunday, May 28, and St. Regis had theirs on Tuesday, May 30.

Gordon Hendrick was the guest speaker at Superior’s 2 p.m. ceremony and it felt like he was graduating along with the class because he will be retiring at the end of this year. Nicholas Taryn Ververis was the class valedictorian and Aidan Patko was the salutatorian. Class president, Sammi Francis also gave a speech to the 22 member class as they embark onto the next chapter of their lives.

In Alberton, Denise Juneau was the guest speaker. In 2009 she took office as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Juneau had met Alberton senior Mackenzie Spence when she served on the student advisory board for Juneau’s Graduation Matters Montana initiative and had asked if she would like to speak at their graduation. Spence was also the class valedictorian and Nick Turnbull was salutatorian for the eight member class.

On Tuesday night St. Regis School held their graduation for the 2017 class of six. Business teacher, Chad Eichenlaub was the guest speaker for the evening. Madison Hill was the valedictorian and Courtney Cheesman was the salutatorian. Retiring science teacher, Chris West presented Hill was the first annual Christine West Science Scholarship. West will be retiring at the end of this year and wants to dedicate the scholarship to a student who will be studying science in college. Overall the class was awarded an impressive $20,000 in scholarships. In addition to the traditional rose ceremony where graduates give roses to family members, there was also a new candlelight ceremony. Where graduates “passed the torch” to the upcoming senior class.