Graduates close unique senior year

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.

Waverly Roorda, bouquet and diploma in hand, heads out to meet the world.

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.

Preston Hirsch speaks to his fellow graduates.

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!”

Everything was ‘thumbs up’ Sunday for Chloe Latcham and the 2020 graduates.

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