WHS graduates Class of 2020
Colter Upton participates in one more "roller coaster" cheer during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Students sat spaced out in the Majestic Valley Arena during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Elise Sabin smiles with her diploma during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Kaiah Moore rocks out with her diploma during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish High School senior Jesse Grawunder returns to her seat with a diploma in hand during the school's graduation ceremony, held at the Majestic Valley Arena on Saturday. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot
Alex Gunset smiles as she leaves Majestic Valley Arena with her diploma during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Justin Conklin moves his tassel over during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish High School Principal Kerry Drown shares a moment with his son, Logan, during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Logan Drown smiles with his diploma during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Claire Carloss poses with her diploma during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish School Board Chair Katie Clarke smiles as she dons gloves before handing out diplomas during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
A student prepares to take the stage and receive his diploma during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jordan Hayes performs the national anthem during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt speaks to students and guests during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
A student watches on as Principal Kerry Drown addresses her class during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish High School Principal Kerry Drown addresses the class of 2020 during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Casey Schneider raps alongside Sam Menicke during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Sam Menicke watches on as Casey Schneider spits bars during the pair's rap at Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Grace Benkelman addresses her fellow students during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Samantha Bee addresses her fellow students during Saturday's Whitefish High School Graduation. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jessica Henson walks as her name is called during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jessica Henson smiles for the camera during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Grant Kahle moves his tassel during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Chloe Kasselder smiles for the camera during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Constance Larsen walks off camera after moving her tassel during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jake Cooke directs a student during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Torin Kelley poses for his moment during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Payton Kastella strides forward during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish High School teacher Chris Schwaderer reads students' names during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Justin McIntyre pauses after his name is called during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Students line up during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish High School teacher Jacqueline Gaertner reads students' names during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Senior Sam Menicke smiles for the camera during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Students line up in the Black Box Theater during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Caden Means smiles as he walks off camera during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Caden Means smiles for a still photo during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jake Cooke directs teachers Jacqueline Gaertner and Chris Schwaderer during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish High School Principal Kerry Drown inspires his students during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jordan Hayes switches her tassel during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jacqueline Gaertner and Chris Schwaderer read students' names during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jessica Henson walks off camera during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Jordan Hayes poses for a still photo during the filming of the 2020 graduation video. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Times have been tough, but the class of 2020 has persevered.
That was the message during Saturday’s Whitefish High School graduation, held at the Majestic Valley Arena.
The ceremony was in many ways the same as years past — students donned their caps and gowns and took to the stage one by one to receive their diplomas. But this year, the audience was seated among the bleachers in the arena, while students sat in spaced-out chairs on the dirt floor.
WHS Principal Drown saved his lone handshake and hug for his son, Logan, but otherwise appropriate distancing took precedence in the time of the coronavirus.
To Drown, the ceremony was a triumph over what had been a “roller coaster” through the past few months.
“We’ve had our ups, we’ve had our downs, and there have been steep slopes and unknowns around every corner. We’ve been pinned into our seats, and then flung out of them. We’ve been isolated, and restrained from our usual freedom of movement,” he said. “No matter how crazy this roller coaster ride has been, and especially the unknowns for how the year would end for our seniors, ladies and gentlemen, we are here. We’re making this happen.”
The topic of the coronavirus didn’t drown out student speakers’ messages either.
Casey Schneider and Sam Menicke, emcees for the ceremony, shared their thoughts on graduation in the form of a rap, laced with references to teachers, classes, state championships and, of course, the virus.
Grit, one of Drown’s favorite talking points with students, figured in as well, as their chorus ran, “G-R-I-T. Coronavirus did us dirty. And we were thinking maybe we’d be, at graduation with the homies.”
Graduate Grace Benkelman said she had planned to use her time to talk about the virus and the unusual end to her class’s high school career, but as the nationwide noise around the Black Lives Matter movement continues to grow following the death of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer, she said she had to speak up.
“I wrote a speech that was just a little bit too long about how the coronavirus was the worst thing that’s happened to us in years, but that we should persist nonetheless and use this to grow. [But] I just could not let myself stand up here and pretend like the coronavirus was the only horrible thing to happen this year,” Benkelman said, noting both feelings of outrage for the victims and their families, as well as embarrassment for not being aware of issues earlier. “I simply did not know that black Americans were still fighting for their rights and their lives, since I’ve grown up, and known nothing but privilege for 18 years.”
Benkelman’s speech was received with standing applause from many in attendance.
For Samantha Bee, she used her speech to reflect back on memories made with her fellow students.
But now, she said, it’s time for them to look ahead and embrace the unknown.
“While the joy and love we’ve created at Whitefish High will forever be cherished and forever be a part of us, it’s time to say goodbye and charge forward as we change our missions with open arms,” she said. “Change is terrifying, but if any class can deal with it — it’s us.”
