By Keith Brake
Montezuma Magazine Editor
It will be a graduation to remember – or maybe, one to not forget.
Montezuma High School awarded diplomas to 34 students on Sunday, June 21, at the school’s 137th commencement ceremony.
The ceremony was like none of the previous 136, with social distancing – sitting six feet apart in front of a crowd that did the same – amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It also was unlike others because afterward, the students were scheduled to go on a fire department-led motorcade around town. Usually, greeting families and friends takes place out in front of the building.
But a storm was coming in fast as the students stepped outside. Some students went on the parade and some chose not to.
Nothing was easy toward the end of this year for this class. But, they did get to see each other again, at a number of graduation parties across the district.
Student remarks were delivered by class members Madelyn McKeag, Preston Hirsch, Madelyn DeJong and Carissa Van Zee.
“Surely we were a great class,” Van Zee said. “We had accomplishments in FFA, music, athletics and fine arts.”
“We were all going to be professionals in something and in third grade, we wrote about it,” Van Zee said. “We were all going to be making millions. We had different dreams.”
“But we got older and realized that only Shateah (Wetering, the Iowa-bound basketball player), had a chance to be a professional athlete,” Van Zee said.
“But we will celebrate when we were in third grade, and we will make the most of life.”
Van Zee told the graduates to reverse their tassels, and after she left the stage, they tossed their caps.
McKeag opened the student speeches saying, “who would have thought that an older slogan, ‘Better late than never’, would wind up being an appropriate motto for our class?”
“Our time at MHS has come to an abrupt end,” said Preston Hirsch. “We are certain grads in uncertain times. But, we can always treat people with kindness,” he said.
Principal Tim Hoffman announced student honors, then presented the graduates, with school board member Jason Meyer awarding diplomas.
Madelyn DeJong gave the student address. “We were together 13 years,” she said. “Doing things together made them more memorable.”
DeJong said, “Our high school careers don’t define us. We’ll take what
we have learned with us, but be open to learn new things.”
‘Yesterday is gone,” DeJong said, “but I will hold you in my heart forever.”
Earlier there was a slide show featuring seniors.
Recorded music led the seniors in at the start and out at the finish.
Class motto – “Better late than never.”
Class colors – Black and Gold.
Class flower – Yellow rose dipped in black.
A note from faculty and staff in the day’s program read: “We realize this wasn’t the way you anticipated ending your high school days in Montezuma. Be assured, we all missed those ‘last’ moments of the year. We wish for you great things! Go out and change the world for the better!”
MHS 2020 graduates
Brayden Lee Arendt
Seth Michael Baird +
Caden Alexander Campbell
Chandler Lynn Carl
Brody Michael Chidester
Shelby Anne Conger
Gabriel Kendall Davis
Caymen Joel DeJong *
Madelyn Rose DeJong *y
Chance Steven Gillium
Chiane Makeal Hartman
Mikayla Dawn Henry
Preston Scott Hirsch *
Benjamin Wyatt Jorgensen
Bailey Nicole Kasal
Isabella Eileen Lang
Chloe Marie Latcham y
Jazmine Rose LeBahn
Brianna Ileen Massengale y
Benjamin Joseph McClenathan
Madelyn Jean McKeag *
Makaela Jolyn Meyer
Tristan Lyle Moyer
Waverly Gabrielle Roorda *
Mariah Sue Seaton
Isaiah Caleb Singleton
Nikayla Ambernique Smith
Blake Mathew Stone
Zachery Stephen Templeton
Rachel Rose Bernice Teumer *
Hunter Lee Van Dee
Carissa Lynn Van Zee *y
Amanda Nicole Westbrook
Shateah Renae Wetering *
*National Honor Society Member
+Parallel Graduate
yPhi Theta Kappa