The ceremony for Homer High School’s 84 graduates last Wednesday reflected two things local students are good at: appreciating their small, tight-knit community, and thinking far beyond themselves and the community of Homer.
Salutatorian Brenna McCarron related several memories she has with various students, not only from high school but from the years spent growing up together in a small town.
“I will spare you a speech talking about our entries into the real world or one in which I describe how bright all our futures are because Ali, let’s be honest, yours is a little questionable,” she said, making a joke to her twin sister who sitting with the rest of the graduates. “No, I want to spend this time talking about how awesome it was to grow up with you guys and how thankful I am for my Homer education.”
She spoke of the benefits to growing up in a small town where she knew each and every one of her classmates.
“Looking out at all my classmates tonight, I not only know everybody’s name, but I have specific memories with each and every one of you — something that you don’t get at a school with thousands of kids,” McCarron said.
Taking a more outward view, valedictorian Avram Salzmann began his speech by simply reading 49 names. No introduction, no explanation — just the 49 names, as he later explained in the speech, of the high school seniors who were not able to graduate after being killed by gun violence in schools.
Salzmann asked the assembled crowd to take a moment of silence to honor those students.
“We’re done with high school, and every single one of us made it,” he said. “We are lucky to go to school where we feel safe, surrounded by a community that has our backs. That means it’s up to us, moving forward, to ensure we work actively against gun violence, especially in our schools.”
Salzmann’s speech was a call to action for his fellow graduates to do better moving forward and to not be hampered down by regrets. He reminded his classmates that every one of them matters, and that they can have an impact on this world whether they think they can or not. He urged them to vote now that many of them have the ability to, citing climate change and its impending effects on the earth as a major hurdle his generation has to overcome.
Homer High School students select the person or people who give their commencement address each year. This year, it was given by two very familiar faces — school secretaries Anita Harry and Cindy Koplin. The pair not only shared their advice for heading off into the future, but also memories of the students stretching back before high school.
In his comments, Principal Doug Waclawski praised the graduating class for being truly good people. He reiterated that he said good, “not perfect,” and reminded the graduates not to act better than anyone else.
A large group of students were also honored Wednesday for having earned some portion of 30 local and state scholarships, from the Homer Elks Lodge Scholarship to the University of Alaska Scholars Award.
Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.
Homer High School class of 2019 graduates:
Seth Michael Adkins
Calvin Kai Anderson
Asia Aileen Angeles-Hanson
Clayton N. Arndt
Sidney Jo Bechtol
Meadow Rhythm Beckett-Cook
Anna Madelena Brock
James Andrew Campbell
Sienna Andrews Carey
Daniel Louis Carter
Theodore Joseph Castellani
Katherine Susann Clark
Garrett Leigh Cooper
Katelyn Marie Davis
Luciano Ignacio Fasulo
Emilia Rhianne Halstead
Theodore Isaac Handley
Hunter Stanley Harrington
Brianna Marle Hetrick
Katia Willow Holmes
Elias Firewolf Huffman
Hannah Noel Inama
Seth James Inama
Emelia Rae Jacobsen
Ciara Rose Jones
Adrienne Janell King
Brooke Makenzie Knott
Solstice Morning Kraszeski
Isabel Ann Kulhanek
Dexter Brown Lowe
Leland Lowe
Kimberly Zulay Lynn
Galen David Lyon
Jadin Russell Mann
Corbin D Mattingly
Alison Frances McCarron
Brenna Claire McCarron
Japheth Jonathan McGhee
Titus William McGhee
Summer RoseMcGuire
Alexander Demarco Miller
Jacob Steven Moore
Jakob Wells Nelson
Katlian Marie Nelson
Wayne Robert Newman
Cora Elizabeth Parish
Hunter Davis Patton
Haley Renae Raymond
Kaitlin Celeste Rios
Jesse Michael Roach
Connor Matthew Roderick
Anthony Levi Roth
Henry Rolan Russell
Avram Noah Dov Salzmann
Matthew Eugen Sargeant
Kelsea Morgan Scott
Calla Jolaine Seay
Skyler Robert Shadle
Ethan Cirrus Smith
Ian Jacob Stovall
Willem Larsen Strydom
Wynand Lester Strydom
Andrew Michael Super
Stanly A. Swoboda
Ian Christopher Taylor
Desmond David Vanliere
Amiyah Shannell Varga
Warren, Hunter Jay Warren
Allison M. Wells
Evan Atkinson Welty
Avram Salzmann gives his valedictorian address during the Wednesday, May 22, 2019 graduation ceremony for Homer High School’s class of 2019 at the school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A Homer High School graduate waits for the graduation ceremony in her cap decorated with a map of Kachemak Bay on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at the high school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
