Morris High School graduates 147th class

MORRIS — The Morris Community High School Class of 2021 faced plenty of adversity and hardships during its four years at the school.

But, the group was the first to have its graduation ceremony on the artificial turf football field Friday night as the 217-member class said goodbye to MCHS.

The Class Motto for the Class of 2021 was, “Special times and special places, special friends together; the moments pass so quickly, but the memories last forever.”

Following the national anthem sung by members of the MCHS Choir, Principal Michael Gourley gave the welcome. He noted that the first graduating class from Morris High School was during the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant, and that the country was facing the difficulties of reconstruction after the Civil War. The current class, he said, also faced the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They sit before us, ready to accept more challanges,” he said.

Gourley also said that in a survey of this year’s seniors, 19 planned to enter the workforce after graduation, 13 were going to a technical school or trade, 133 planned to attend two or four-year college, and five had chosen to serve their country in the miliary. He asked the five entering the military - Lainy Button (Air Force), Rosalee Cuatlacuatl (Marine Corps), Patrick McPherson (Marine Corps), Mason Reed (Navy) and Lachlan Stewart (Navy) - all to stand and be recognized for serving and protecting the country.

District 101 Superintendent Dr. Craig Ortiz then asked the honor students to stand and be recognized before student speaker Keaton Auwerda spoke on behalf of the Class of 2021.

“How can I summarize even this year, let alone the last four years, into five minues?” Auwerda said. “Even amidst the wacky year we’ve had, everyone of us dress in maroon tonight had demonstrated that, instead of saying, ‘Look at what has happened to me,’ he or she has said, ‘Look at what I have risen above.’

“Indeed, we have risen above. I think it’s safe to say that, when we were freshmen, the seniors looked like giants among men with shoes we’d never be able to fill. Now, we are too big for those shoes.

“We’ve done some amazing things this year alone. Sure, we all started the school year at our kitchen tables or our couches, but we’ve had some great success in sports and activities that could compete throught the fall, like Fall Play and cross country. Now, suddenly we are cramming 2/3 of the year, like soccer and football, into the last few months of school. And spring extracurriculars are still active. In addition to everything happening on school grounds, we’ve all had to plan our next steps with everything constantly changing. And that’s just this year.

“We survived the great water pipe burst and almost tornado of 2019, surfed on the puddles outside the STEM building when it rains, we managed to have an SAT half a year later, and most recently, the internet went out when half the student body was learning at home.

“We got a new track, turf, press box and auditorium seats, and managed to get use out of all of them despite trying circumstances. So, how do I summarize our class? Well, I don’t have to summarize anything, and neither should anyone else. Yes, soon we will have some hard-earned paper in our hands that says, ‘You did it,’ but that doesn’t mean we have all the answers. We don’t have to have our lives all planned out til we’re 55 and we certainly don’t need to be prepared right now for every life situation we might find ourselves in. After all, the smartest people in the world struggled to find answers when a global pandemic hit.

“Planning is important, but the ability to be able to move with a plan instead of against it is far more important. Before any of us come up with a plan, the first thing we need is another skill. Compassion. Compassion for others and for ourselves. We need to love ourselves, especially the parts out of our control. Curves, acne, laugh, personality, it doesn’t matter. Learning to be confident in who we are and our strengths is just as important as loving our flaws. With that being said, I want to issue a challenge to everyone present. Don’t be afraid to make change happen. Don’t be afraid to fail. Change for the better that lasts isn’t brought about by one individual. It’s brought about by individuals who are supported by other individuals. That includes helping others when they stumble. Look around. Look to your left, look to your right. All those people are here to support us in one way or another. Class of 2021, we are made up of strong individuals. Remember that this class excelled in one of the most trying years in human history.

“I will leave you with a quote by cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ My fellow classmates, let’s challenge ourselves to be the best we can be.”

The awarding of the diplomas by School Board President Scot Hastings, Ortiz, Gourley, assistant principal Jeremiah R. Farrell and athletic director Jeffrey R. Johnson followed before Senior Class Secretary Taylor Nelson led the class in the turning of the tassels and the caps flew into the air.