EVANSTON — Evanston High School seniors enjoyed a bright sunny day on Saturday, May 31, for their graduation ceremony held at the football stadium. Opening ceremonies included a group of six senior students singing the national anthem and EHS principal Scott Kohler giving a welcome to all present.

Kohler asked EHS Activities Specialist Boyd Child to come up to the stage and presented him with an award upon his retirement and said Child was graduating with honors.

Graduating senior Hadlie Erickson was the first speaker. She plans to attend Sam Houston State University to major in Kinesiology to become an athletic trainer.

Erickson said she had moved to Evanston from Texas in her sophomore year because her mother had cancer and was receiving treatment nearby. Sadly, she said, her mother died shortly after the move, and Erickson had a tough time adjusting to a new home and school while grieving for her mother.

“I found hope through the people here and friends and, eventually, became senior class president and editor of the Red Devil Voice,” Erickson said. “I found EHS was a place to rebuild my life, and it became a home for me. Each of us in the class of 2025 has our own story … remember you’re never truly alone. Thank you to my teachers, my friends, my siblings and especially to my mother, whose memories are with me every day and I know she would be proud of me. Her love guides me.”

Next to speak was student body president Kolby Nelson who, Kohler introduced by stating Nelson wants to be a pilot and a chocolatier in Hawaii and is going to attend Utah State University to study aviation.

Nelson talked to his fellow graduating seniors and jokingly said that today is the first day of the rest of their lives and tomorrow would be the second day of the rest of their lives. He added that growth can be scary, but it also offers new opportunities for change, and their shared experiences from high school will help them through those changes.

He said, “Wherever we end up in life, we will be remembered in the minds of our peers.” He then threw a paper airplane he made from his speech papers at his fellow students.

Following Nelson, the EHS orchestra performed for the crowd.

Salutatorian Kya Coles was then introduced by Kohler, who said Coles was going to attend Utah Technical College to study biology in preparation to become a physician assistant.

Coles thanked her parents for their constant support and said, in preparing for her speech, she had asked her father what he had said in his salutatorian speech when he graduated in 1978. She focused her speech on all of the friendships, activities and experiences shared with her classmates and how now they are all looking ahead to the scary world they call the future. She ended her speech with a quote from one of her favorite celebrities, Taylor Swift: “This is the golden age of something great, right and real.”

A recording of the seniors in the EHS choir singing “What Does the World Say” was played next.

Kohler then introduced the final speaker, valedictorian Paul Baxter.

“Paul is going to serve a mission in the Philippines,” Kohler said, “and, following that, will attend the University of Alabama to study aerospace engineering. He is also a Merit Scholar.”

Baxter used a sense of humor to look back over all the years of school the class of 2025 had experienced together.

“We now have to look forward,” he said, “and decide what is worthwhile in our lives. Whether we stay and serve our community, sign up to play college basketball or whatever else we decide to do — our journey will be encumbered, but will teach us to persevere. Benjamin Franklin said, ‘The trouble with doing nothing is you won’t know when you’re finished.’ I hope to follow my grandpa’s good advice: ‘Always be kind, whatever you do.’”

Vice principal Audrey Ortberg presented the EHS special awards.

The first awards presented were for the students graduating in the top 10% based on grades and academic achievement. Those students receiving that award were: Keenan Batt, Paul Baxter, Liesl Botts, Felisa Clarito, Kya Coles, Clayton Cook, Jaxson George, Aspyn Higdon, Jay Hill, Riley Liechty, Justin Moon, Draiman Nebeker, Camilla Powell, Layci Carson, Janet Salisbury, Zoe Smith and Celeste Swensen.

The Lois Mitchellstetter Citizenship Award was given to seniors Jovie Quillinan, Justin Moon and Kolby Nelson.

The Outstanding Male and Female Students Award, chosen by EHS staff, was presented to Marlee Torres and Jay Hill.

The Outstanding All-Around Athlete Award, chosen by the coaching staff, was presented to Kiernynn Simmons and Jordan Mendez.

Uinta School District #1 Superintendent Ryan Thomas then certified the graduates and said, “You are our future, and we know our future is in good hands. Congratulations, Class of 2025.”

Following the graduates each receiving their diplomas and returning to their seats, Kolby Nelson and Hadlie Erickson led them all in singing the EHS school song, followed by the students moving the tassels on their hats to the left and throwing them in the air.