SHS Class of 2023 Completes Commencement May 19

Sullivan High School presented diplomas to 164 graduating seniors Friday, May 19, before a capacity crowd in the gymnasium. 

Rain prevented the commencement from being held at the stadium.

SHS Principal Jason Merkel addressed those in attendance after graduates took their seats, with the Sullivan High School Band performing “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Merkel welcomed the Class of 1973, graduates of Class of 2023, administration, the Board of Education, parents, family and friends in attendance.

Merkel recognized all of the veterans who served in the room, along with any graduates entering the military with Graduate Gage Bartle standing as the lone graduate going into the Marines.

“Parents thank you for entrusting your students to us these past four years. Without your commitment to them and trust in us, we cannot create the opportunities we have here at Sullivan High School,” said Merkel.

Assistant Superintendent Cody Davis presented the honor students and Top 10 of the Class of 2023, which was followed by Assistant Principal Tina Burke, who recognized the students completing the A+ program.

Class President Madeleine Lahmann addressed her classmates.

“Being together got all these moments have helped us grow into who we are today. But I wouldn’t be who I am today without my firm foundation in Jesus Christ. My advice to you is do not wait. Do not wait to follow God. Just yesterday felt like the first day of freshman year. We were wide-eyed little freshman..who walked into a big building..thinking we were already cooler than everyone else. Now, it’s up to you to decide if that were really true or not.”

The Sullivan High School Choir performed “You Will Be Found,” which was followed by Salutatorian Kayla Ulrich.

“I know that we are ready to get this diploma and move on to the next chapter of our lives, and as exciting as that is, when we look back on high school, I want us to remember all of the good times we had, and not just the bad,” Ulrich said. “There were some great friendships made, we got through all of our struggles, and I would say we had some pretty good times together. If I had to pick one thing to take away from my time in high school, it would be that being yourself and having confidence in who you are is the best thing that you can do for yourself, and I hope that many of my classmates would agree.”

Sullivan High School Band then performed “Stars and Stripes Forever,” which was then followed by a speech from Valedictorian Elle Webers.

Webers stated, “wherever life takes you and what opportunity looks like for you, make sure that you are ready to take any path and be flexible about your goals. Work hard to gain a wide variety of skills, even if you are unaware as to how they will benefit you. You never know what opportunities will be thrown at you, and you want to be prepared for anything.”

Webers concluded stating, “To my classmates remember, as Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is courage to continue that counts.”