Written by: Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic 

The Class of 2016 says goodbye at ceremony Friday

Although the threat of rain and lightning sent Newberg High School administrators scrambling to organize contingency plans, commencement ceremonies for the class of 2016 went off without a hitch Friday night at Loren Douglas Field.

The 310 graduates were subjected to little more than a brief sprinkle as they celebrated their accomplishments, soaking up instead many words of advice and encouragement before receiving their diplomas.

“Know in your heart that you have so much that you can accomplish and that you will make a difference in this world,” Pacific University’s Jeff Grundon said in his commencement address. “Imagine where you want to go and do not let anything stand in the way of making it happen.”

Associated Student Body president Jacob Krebs, who had the honor of leading his classmates in the time-honored tradition of changing the tassels, said the ceremony featured a nice balance between fun and serious. For him, it felt like a fitting end to his high school experience, considering he had spent four years trying to stay on top of his studies but still enjoy his youth.

“Going into the ceremony, I personally didn’t feel like it was my senior year,” Krebs said. “I tried to keep the same blend of fun and academics throughout all four years. I think it really hit me when I gave that final spiel about changing the tassel.”

Much of the levity at the event came from Scott Klug, who was chosen once again by graduating seniors to deliver the teachers’ message.

“Somebody behind me is saying, ‘Wrap it up,’” Klug quipped from the dais. “It’s not Mr. Burke because he’s sleeping. That’s what happens when you pass 50. Way past 50.”

Amid his many jokes, which included telling students he had taped a $20 bill to the bottom of one of their seats then chuckling that he had made them look, Klug did have some advice to impart.

In addition to imploring them to say “please” and “thank you” as a habit because “it never hurts,” Klug’s main point was that life will get better after high school whether or not they enjoyed it.

“Having Klug go up there the way that he did made this go from a super serious thing to a fun thing, too,” Krebs. “It really allowed all us to let loose and get our giggles out, maybe some stress and anxiety, too, because we’re sitting there waiting to get our diplomas.”

Krebs also expressed appreciation for perhaps the most serious moment of the evening, in which administrators conferred an honorary diploma to Cesar Campusano, a member of the class of 2016 who died in 2013 after falling into the Willamette river.

“The dedication that they gave to Caesar, that was powerful,” Krebs said. “It really showed the unity and embodied what our class is about. Those that are lost are gone but never forgotten. Even though his death was three years ago, it shows how committed we are as a class to one another.”

This year’s 15 valedictorians presented their classmates with the building blocks of success both metaphorically and figuratively, sharing their thoughts on principles like gratitude and passion but also writing them on paper boxes that were then assembled into a pyramid.

An exchange student in Taiwan her junior year, Madison Bechtold told her classmates to always explore.

“I implore you all to embrace the challenges that lie ahead of you,” Bechtold said. “Not only will you survive them, you’ll grow so much in the process. Let’s take this world and leave a legacy in our wake.”

Valedictorian Elena Krupicka extolled the virtues of passion, noting that proving people wrong was one the things that elicits enthusiasm from her.

“I think the only reason I got an A in at least two of my classes was because somebody told me they didn’t think I could,” Krupicka said. “So, class of 2016, harness your passion and you’ll never know where it could take you. You could end up some place like on this stage.”

Curtis Olson drew one of the biggest laughs of the night for noting that his building block, “carpe diem,” is the realization that we all will die some day “and that’s depressing,” but he also roused his classmates with a powerful imperative.

“Your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there,” Olson said. “So if you’re not afraid of something in your life, you’re not living. Go live life to the fullest. Take a moment and make it perfect. Go carpe diem your life.”