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Music and more mark RHS Class of 2023 graduation

By Sue Sitter - | Jun 1, 2023

Sue Sitter/PCT Members of Rugby High School’s Class of 2023 toss their mortarboards into the air at the close of their graduation ceremony Sunday, May 28.

The Rugby High School Class of 2023 marked the end of 13 years of education with memories, music and more on Sunday, May 28, in the Rugby High School Charlie Hanneman Gym.

Forty-seven graduates and their families and friends filled several rows of folding chairs on the gym floor and nearly every bleacher seat on both sides of the gym.

Rugby Schools Superintendent Mike McNeff said, “Today’s ceremony marks the 123rd graduating class from Rugby High School. Since its inception, a total of 6,416 graduates have passed through its doors, many of whom have gone on to make significant contributions to communities, states, nations and the world.”

“As we gather here today, we acknowledge the dedication and the hard work of the Rugby High School staff and faculty, their commitment to providing a quality education and a supportive learning environment that’s helped shape the graduates into the young men and women they are today,” he added.

To the graduates of the Class of 2023, we say congratulations,” he said. “Your journey to this day has been filled with challenges, hard work and perseverance. You have overcome obstacles, embrace opportunities and have grown into young adults ready to take on the world.”

Honor students Dylan Bartsch, Cole Fahnestock and Joran Jundt addressed their class and the audience.

Bartsch spoke of memories shared by his class, which began its time at Rugby High School at the height of a pandemic. “We’ve all come a long way to get here,” he said. “Many of us have known each other our whole lives, and some of us have only been in Rugby for a short amount of time.”

“Wherever we come from and wherever we’re going, we all share one thing in common. We all had our senior year together,” he said.

Fahnestock who spoke of the present, thanked parents and teachers “who helped us get to where we are today.”

“We wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for you,” he added.

Fahnestock spoke of experiences familiar to all class members, such as juggling schoolwork with sports and activities.

Jundt, who spoke of the future, said although what lay before the class is “a little scary, it gives people opportunities to move on from the past and look forward to new beginnings.”

“Abraham Lincoln said, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it,'” Jundt said.

She also referred to the different paths each student would choose after leaving high school – college, entering the workforce or enlisting in the military.

“No matter where we go or what we do, we all face adversities,” she added. “My challenge to you and to myself is to face those challenges head on and to try not to take the easy way out. Success does not come easy, nor is it handed to you. Your mindset must always be to do better and strive for more.”

The ceremony included several music selections performed by the Rugby High School Band and Choir. For some songs, graduates left their chairs to join the band or stand on the choir platform to sing.

Rugby High School Principal Jared Blikre presented the class to the audience, and each member walked onstage to receive a diploma from Carlie Johnson, member of the Rugby Public Schools Board of Education.

Blikre thanked Rugby Dollars for Scholars for providing scholarship opportunities to help Rugby school graduates through local fundraisers. He said this year the organization raised “over $60,000” for scholarships.

Graduating with the Class of 2023 were Bryson Paul Amyotte, with honors; Dylan James Bartsch, with honors; Anaa Jo Bogar, with honors; Carson Joseph Bohl; Cooper Ira Bonebrake; Megan Denai Buckmier, with honors; Isaac Ty Christenson; Gentry Burkett Craig; Bryceton Anthony Deplazes, with honors; Austin Lane Dibble, with honors; Andrew Jeffrey Duchscher; Cole Franklin Fahnestock, with honors; Erik William Foster, with honors; Annette Marie Fox; Kristian Jesse Fritz; Ally Marie Graner; Logan Bruce Gronvold, with honors; Kendyl Pauline Hager, with honors; Logan John Harner; Peyton Marie Hauck, with honors; Mykell Dee Heidlebaugh, with honors; Macen Ross Heisler; Anakin Lee Hicks; Derek Bradley Jacobs, with honors; Riley Vaughn Karl Johnson; John Thomas Dorwin Jundt, with honors; Joran Elizabeth Jundt, with honors; Ryleigh Aingeal Keating, with honors; Brenden James Kleespie; Mariann Elizabeth Kraft, with honors; Reese Anecia LaRocque, with honors; Kendra Elizabeth Leier, with honors; Mikaylee DorAnn Livedalen, with honors; William Thomas Lundberg; Grace Marie Mahle, with honors; Savannah Marie McCall, with honors; Janikka Ann Miller, with honors; Sarah Marie Nelson; Jacob Steven Ripplinger; Angeline Mae Risovi, with honors; Megan Marie Schmaltz, with honors; Brody Edward Schneibel, with honors; Chase Anthony Schneibel; Kyla Joy Slaubaugh; Ryan Lee Slaubaugh; Josephine Lynn Wolf, with honors, and Monica Rae Yoder, with honors.