The Soldotna High School auditorium was packed on Thursday evening, where students from around the Kenai Peninsula converged to celebrate their graduation from Connections, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s home-school program. With the rear rows reduced to standing room only, nearly 70 graduates participated in the ceremony.
Connections Principal Doug Hayman opened the ceremony by introducing himself and acknowledging the lead role that graduates and their parents have taken to get to commencement.
“I use the term administrator tangentially because you, out there in the audience, you are the principal, you’re the teacher, the custodian, the cook, the counselor and, at times, psychologist, the law enforcement, the bus driver, and I recognize the role that the family plays in home-school and would like to honor that,” Hayman said.
Hayman told graduates to dream big.
“Expect a lot,” he said. “Expect a lot from yourself and from others. Your goals should be lofty. Please do not settle and do not aim low. The old saying about shooting for the moon is true — aim for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
Because Connections doesn’t have a separate awards ceremony, numerous graduates were recognized for scholarships and other honors during the ceremony. Scholarships awarded Thursday came from the Alaska Peace Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary, the Kenai Peninsula masons, the Soldotna Chamber and the Peninsula Oilers Booster Club, among others.
As is Connections’ tradition, parents were able to present their graduates with diplomas. Not all Connections Homeschool graduates participated in Thursday’s ceremony. Those who did were given the opportunity to address attendees.
Seward graduate Aaron Smith, who plans to continue education in Montana or California, thanked his family for their support and for giving him a name that is easy to pronounce.
“Thank you to my family, I couldn’t have gotten here without you,” Smith said.
Homer graduate Jenna Lapp, who plans to take a medical assistance class in the fall and then work to become a travel nurse, congratulated her fellow graduates. Lapp also said she is thankful to be wearing her Native regalia and to be celebrating her graduation alongside her family.
“A huge congratulations to everyone and a reminder that you’re on Native land,” Lapp said.
Layla Triem, also a graduate from Homer, recited Psalm 73:26 and shared words of encouragement to her fellow graduates. Triem plans to continue studying the Bible after graduation, in addition to teaching a tae kwon do class and leading a Bible study for young women.
“As you graduate and step into the beginning of the rest of your life, please remember that you can breathe,” Triem said. “Jesus has already won. In this present age, you’re fighting a battle, but we can fight knowing that the war is already won.”
Attendees were also treated to a piano performance by Bella Kaliberda of Miroslava Sentürk’s “Mother’s Melody,” in addition to a senior slideshow.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
Spring graduates
Abigail Adam^
Elizabeth Adam^
Haley Akee^
Lawson Alexson-Walls^
Nora Andrews^+
Minadora Anufriev
Dylan Arno^
Hannah Autry
Lay’la Baker
Joseph Barone^
Anatoly Basargin
Ryan Baughn^
Nolan Boehme#
Haven Bower
Cole Brand#
Jaxson Brophy
Niles Broussard
Ashton Brown^
Mya Brown^
Michaela Browning#
Hannah Butler^
Jacob Christensen^
Sylvia Clemens
Troy Cotton-Wood^
Kaia Cournoyer^
Katelyn Cowdrey^
Laredo Craven#
Auden Cress#+^
Ryleigh Cummings
Ryder Cunningham*
Brooke Dambacher#^
Benjamin Dickson^
Emily Duffield
Meaghan Dyson
Wesley Earll^
Lilliana Fisk
Enoch Frederickson#^
Nolan Freeman^
Charisma Fulk^
Noelani Fullerton^
Alexandria Gahm^
Natalya Gallentine^
Dylan Gardner^
Evelyn Giver
Zachory Goss
Joy Haerle
Victor Haerle
Trajan Haley^
Dustin Hamilton^
Paige Hammerle^
Owen Hart
Walter Haybeck
Cody Henley
Simon Holman
Kyler Howell
Riley Huffman
Taylor Hutchinson
Matthew Hyatt^
Haley-Sue Inman^
Kyeson Johnson
Jon Johnson#
Josie Josephson+^
Bella Kaliberda*^
Tustin Keller^
Nikolay Knutson^
Juliette Kuzmin
Destiny Langston
Jenna Lapp^
Morgan Lemm^
Hannah Lowe^
Caitlyn Martin^#
Alexis Martinez^
Hayden Matthews^
Ava Mayzsak^
Jace Meehan^
Savannah Mickel^
Cassius Miller^
Tristen Morris^
Fisher Mosher
Golden Musgrave
Grayden Musgrave
Sylus Pannell^
Brooke Parker^
Kaelan Peterson
Graciana Phillips
Hannah Phipps^
Jackson Pietsch#
Gideon Plate
Max Reese!
Lydia Reutov
Grace Richmond^
Abbey Robertson
Layla Rollins
Nathaniel Romero^
Athena Rossiter
Pearl Sayler^
Heinrich Scheer^
Audrie Schock^
Gideon Schrock^
Gautoma Schuett-Iwamura
Allikzandra Seavey
Timothy Shackelford
Randall Shaw
Adam Smircich*
Aaron Smith^
Taylor Smith^
Tristan Smith
Anna Socha#
Austin Sorhus
Andrew Stassen^!
Kevin Steger
Miles Strickland
Megan Stuber^
Kelly Super^*
Ethan Tree
Lion Trejo
Layla Triem^*
Riley Tucker^
Caleb Tugan^
Taylor Turner^
Macy Waarvik*
Anne’Cecilia Wilson
Lorenzo Wilson
Rinoa Woods
Abigail Youngberg^#
Ezekiel Yragui
Mary Zaukar
Early grads
Lexa Adami
Luke Nelson^
Carly Nelson^
Ireland Styvar
KEY
^ walked on Thursday
# Graduating Cum Laude
* Graduating Magna Cum Laude
! Graduating Suma Cum Laude
+ National Honor Society member
Graduates celebrate with their friends and loved ones after Connections Homeschool’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates listen to Connections Homeschool Principal Doug Hayman speak during the school’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Connections Homeschool graduate Jenna Lapp addresses attendees at the school’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Connections Homeschool graduate Layla Triem addresses attendees at the school’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates celebrate with their friends and loved ones after Connections Homeschool’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Connections Homeschool graduate Aaron Smith addresses attendees at the school’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Connections Homeschool Principal Doug Hayman welcomes attendees to the school’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Director of Information Services Eric Soderquist (left) and school board member Diane MacRae (center) congratulate graduates during Connections Homeschool’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
