Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Haines High School Class of 2022 continued a tradition of parading down Main Street Tuesday evening in decorated trucks, jeeps and a bus that carried the graduates through town to the sounds of honking horns and the Haines Marching Band.

Eleven graduates tossed their caps in the school gymnasium during the May 24 commencement ceremony.

Salutatorian Natalie Jobbins recalled memorable moments with her classmates who had mostly been together since kindergarten. "That's seven out of the eleven people here before us that started in the beginning together," Jobbins said.

She cited Zander Willard's stitches on his split knee who "split it all over again," Logan Borcik and Caleb Holm's legendary "bromance" that began in the summer before fourth grade and Trygve Bakke's reaction to his mother pulling up to kindergarten on his first day of school: "This is cool, but let's just go home."

Jobbins' speech was followed by the High School Choir's performance of "I See the Light," by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me," by PinkZebra.

Third grade teacher Kristin White gave the commencement address. She said she saw the "eight-year-old versions of you in caps and gowns" about to embark. She dedicated her speech to honoring the "unique child in you who I hope you never lose sight of" and spoke of her memories with the class she taught eight years ago.

"We attempt to walk in a line. It is far more challenging than it should be," White said. "At recess, Natalie tells me she will be the president when she grows up. Avery and Taylor would rather be reading, so they follow me with books instead of playing. Trygve and Zander are happy just to be free. All of the sudden, Logan tries to escape. He is running down the centerline of the Haines Highway."

She urged her former students to strive for success, but to balance success with fulfillment by appreciating the small moments in life and "finding joy in being where you are and who you are with."

"Life is made up of millions of small moments," White said. "Savor these."

Graduate Logan Borcik sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" while his father, Mike Borcik, accompanied him with a ukulele.

Jobbins sang the solo "The Climb," by Jessi Alexander to great applause.

In her address, Valedictorian Avery Williamson said progressing through high school was like putting together a puzzle and that figuring out where the final piece went meant identifying what they would do with their lives after graduation.

She said applying to college was like proposing to "a nice girl that you really like."

"Chances are, she probably says no. And just like that, your dream girl is gone," Williamson said. "But what she didn't know is that you also proposed to ten other girls just in case she rejected you. You might not have ended up with your first choice, but you have backups."

Continuing her analogy, she added that while many of her peers would be pursuing married life in the form of a college education, others had plans that were just as important.

"Many of us are strong, independent women that don't need no man," Williamson said. "These people have other things awaiting them in the fall, which is equally impressive."

Trygve Bakke.

She said what mattered most during their young lives was they learned from each other.

"We've learned to be Sadie's smile when life gets tough," she said. "We've learned to be Trygve's laughter in unfortunate situations. Logan has taught us to never take life too seriously. Aubrey and Taylor have taught us the value of friendship. We've learned Caleb's kindness and Natalie's determination. Willow has taught us to live in the moment. Journey and Zander have taught us to never walk away from a challenge. And, most importantly, we've learned that we will always have one another."

Graduates included Sadie Anderson, Trygve Bakke, Logan Borcik, Taylor Ganey, Caleb Holm, Natalie Jobbins, Aubrey Katzeek-Sloper, Willow Oakley, Journey Rettinger, Zander Willard and Avery Williamson.