A 10 • Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
The members of the Port Townsend High School Class of 2016 gathered June 8 in the gym for a class photo. Pictured are (from left, front row) Sadie Palatnick, Lillian Kelly, Camilla Costa Goetz, Rachel Marx, Elli Coupe, Bethany Goodenough, Mysti Willmon, Samantha Smith, Hannah Hooten, Kaleigh Adams, Emily Slough, Fruini Rubio; (second row) Reilly Berkshire, Diana Bond, Camille Ottaway, Abigail Clemons, Samantha Young, Laure Mounts, Bryce Van Leuven, Jackson Schott, Jack Pickard, Lorraine Krissy Schmucker, Sinai Lopez, Emily Harrenstein, Katie Jennings, Alexandria Norvell, Kassie Olin, Alycia Myers; (third row) Chloe Rogers, Tyler Manthe, Bennet Fischer, Wesley Wheeler, Shenoa Snyder, Noah Falge, Miguel Salguero, Ezekiel Whitney, Tristan Minnihan, Corbin Simmons-Reimnitz, David Hoglund, Koby Weidner, Cody Morgan-Erfle, Calvin Leckenby, Josef Hoffmann, Clarice Forbes, Zarah Smith; (fourth row) Ella Becker, Mitchell Morris, Austin Khile, Matthew Widmer, Austin Widmer, Oliver Parish, Elijah Fenter, Alexander Genaw, Andrew Coulson, Steven Riepe, Zephyr Petrick, Elijah Maxwell, Alexandar Brown, Jacob Ralls, Keegan Khile, David Su’a, Jake Vande Griend, Aija Thomas; (back row) Greta Gamble, Chase Gardner, Zachary Judd, Patrick Charlton, Vincent Noirhomme, Tristan Barnes, Lucas Foster, Benjamin Cundiff, Thierry Williamson, Benjamin Rolland, Ellis Henderson, Jack Doyle, James Groves Moore, Sean Wall, Sean Westlund, Brett Lawrence, Sebastian Thomas-Anderson, Ezra Easley, Morgan Chaffee. Photo by Nicholas Johnson
PT grads ready to change the world Class of 2016 enters ‘a world tearing itself apart’
decorated state-tournament wrestler in school history, tore off her gown and delivered a speech while wearing her wrestling singlet, shoes and graduation cap. “My mother always told NICHOLAS JOHNSON me, ‘Don’t ever let anyone LEADER STAFF tell you you can’t do something,’” she said in describPort Townsend’s Class ing how her mother inspired of 2016 is ready to make its her to face her fears, public mark on the world, “bring- speaking being one of them. ing beauty and brightness “Yes, failure is frightening, Clarice Forbes (left) and Diana Bond, with Jackson Schott on piano, perform “Belle nuit, o nuit d’amour” as their classmates shine light from their wherever we go.” but don’t let the possibil- cell phones June 10. Photos by Nicholas Johnson Salutatorian Clarice Forbes foreshadowed the challenges she and her classmates stand to inherit. “We are exiting high school and entering into a world tearing itself apart: the waters are rising, tensions are mounting between nations, and our country has such an unclear political future,” she said. Nearly 80 graduates – each donning a customdecorated cap and, for the first time in the school’s history, their choice of a red or white gown – gathered June 10 at McCurdy Pavilion to celebrate each other and recognize their respective duties to make the world a better place. “Society has given us our education; now it’s time for us to give back to society,” Valedictorian David HoPatrick Charlton, with help from Brett Lawrence on piano, performs “Common Ground” by Alasdair Fraser glund said. “Be women and during graduation June 10. men of action. We didn’t spend the last 13 years of our lives studying just to Stevie Riepe and Koby Weidner embrace before accepting their diplomas be able to take tests and June 10 at McCurdy Pavilion. get good grades. Our learnPokémon. ing is meant to be applied ity of defeat keep you from “This world needs some in the real world, so let’s winning the most valuable help and we are just the make our teachers, mentors prize of all: happiness.” Class speaker Stevie crew to do it,” Riepe told and parents proud by using his classmates, saying that our knowledge to better the Riepe said he would miss unlike some he’s not after hearing his classmates world.” fame and riches. “I’m going Kassie Olin and Lucas chant his name for no rea- to change the world. I don’t Foster opened the ceremo- son, which was promptly know how it will happen, ny with bad jokes, light rib- followed by a united chant but I am going to change bings and a made-you-look. of “Stevie, Stevie, Stevie.” “I love you more than the world.” Musical performances came milk,” Riepe said of his from Diana Bond, Clarice classmates. “I love you Forbes and Jackson Schott; RIGHT: Port Townsend graduates Patrick Charlton and Brett more than soccer; I love you line up outside the chapel at Lawrence; and Emily more than acting; I love you Fort Worden June 10 before Harrenstein and Tristan more than Naruto; I love marching through the Centennial you more than superheroes; Rhododendron Garden to McCurdy Minnihan. Chloe Rogers, the most I even love you more than Pavilion.