Colfax Class of 2021 graduates

Ceremony for 48 seniors ends with parade

Garth Meyer, Whitman County Gazette | Jun 10, 20210

Garth Meyer | The gazette count

Wind carries off the traditional toss of the mortarboards for the Colfax High School class of 2021.

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Garth Meyer | The Gazette count

Colfax girls ride down Main Street in the parade following graduation at the football stadium. From left to right, Maddie Fairbanks, Lexi Booth, Sophie Klaveano, Kari Largent, Kierstyn York, Sidney Berquist and Perry Imler. Not visible in the back is Anni Cox.

COLFAX - The scoreboard time clock was set to 20:21 and a gusting wind caused graduates to hold on to their mortarboards. It's how 48 students completed their education at Colfax High School.

Valedictorians Hannah Buri and Kari Largent spoke, along with salutatorian Alexis Booth, representing their graduating class on June 5.

"We all feel like we missed out on a senior year," said Largent, in her speech, before talking of how the class worked through their disappointment of their senior year being in a pandemic.

Principal David Gibb spoke about the students he has come to know through two of the most unusual years in education. Then he looked to the future.

"When writing the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen," Gibb said.

Superintendent Jerry Pugh asked the graduates to be sure to mix with others with different points of view, others beliefs, and traditions.

He quoted the late Robin Williams.

"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about," Pugh said. "Be kind, always."

Additional top scholars honored for the class of 2021 were Jacob Brown, Perry Imler, and Kierstyn York. She took part in graduation despite graduating in January to enroll at Lewis-Clark State College for their volleyball season.

Mortarboards stayed on until the traditional toss at the end of the ceremony, which was followed by a parade down Main Street.