NHS’s 141st graduating class gets diplomas

If some of the Newton Community School District administrators and school board members looked a little unfamiliar with looking into the sun during Sunday’s Newton High School graduation ceremony, it might be because it’s been a few years since the ceremony was held outdoors.

For the first time in several years, the weather cooperated well enough for the NHS ceremony to be held Sunday at the Maytag Bowl, with pristine sunny, warm and slightly breezy conditions. The 168 members of the Class of 2016 were able to walk across the stage and collect their diplomas, but not before hearing the inspirational words of two of its own ranks, Grace Coen and Savannah Eadens.

“After seeing each other every day for most of the past 12-plus years, this is the last time we’ll all be together at a school event,” Coen said in her address as the senior class president. “So we head out from here with a lot of choices.”

Coen was introduced by Superintendent Bob Callaghan, who listed a long collection of honors, extra-curricular and community-service efforts and college plans for the senior, who will run cross country while attending the University of Iowa in the fall. However, she’s hardly the only Cardinal leaving with a massive list of honors or accomplishments this year; 86 members of the class, or about half, graduated with some type of academic honor.

Coen, Alex Hutchinson, Bryce Tish, Becca Gibson, Jaci Reeves, Kate Wyre, Sierra Griffith and Hannah Rhoads are the Class of 2016 valedictorians.

Eadens, another NHS graduate leaving with a host of honors, was the commencement speaker, talking about the “roller coaster” that is high school. She talked about moments of surprise, such as discovering the quiet kid actually has a lot to say, and how if there were a camera catching those facial-expression moments on a roller coaster, it would capture us at our worst and finest moments.

Principal Bill Peters said the class’s $2.7 million earned in scholarship money so far is the most ever. He also listed the many athletic and activity accomplishments throughout the Class of 2016’s senior year, and praised the resilience of the Cardinals, who grew through the many changes the City of Newton has faced during the 2000s.

“I’ve seen parents and their families flourish, and I’ve seen parents lose their jobs,” Peters said. “But another thing about this class is that they truly care for one another.”

Hutchinson, who plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa, echoed that sentiment after the ceremony.

“This class is tight-knit,” she said. “I don’t know exactly why we get along so well, but we do, and it’s a big part of why we excel.”

Hutchinson said a graduating class shows its mettle not only by celebrating the good times, but also by helping each other get through the tough days and experiences.

“There was always someone around to encourage you,” she said. “There was always someone around with a smile.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com