Winnie the Pooh, Will Rogers and a hat made of squirrel pelts were invoked at Tuesday’s graduation ceremony for the Haines High School class of 2017.

Sixteen students received diplomas at an evening noticeably absent of surprises and student hijinks.

Alexandria Habra wrapped up her salutatorian address in less than 250 words, zeroing in on one piece of advice for classmates – patience. “Now we have the chance to spread our wings and take flight toward a better tomorrow with ourselves as the guides. But we must remember that what we want will not come instantly.”

Her Pooh quote: “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

The daughter of school district superintendent Tony Habra, Alyx said afterward that she took some advice from dad, including brevity. “Dad has a lot of experience with speeches, and he coached me.”

As a newcomer to Haines this year, serving as a class speaker was difficult, she said. “It was pretty tough coming into the group. This class is close-knit. I just came in and did what I could.”

Commencement speaker Lisa Andriesen, a district middle school teacher, likened life to middle school, reassuring graduates that “we forgot exactly what you hoped we would forget and just remember what delighted us – much like childbirth.”

Andriesen said middle school was full of life lessons including fearlessness, being unique, leadership, emotions, compassion and community. She conjured up the squirrel hat created by four boys in the graduating class years ago. “It’s not a bad idea to bring back your individuality, to not care about the looks you get when wearing your squirrel hat down the street.”

Andriesen likened graduates to “raw, unpolished” rock. “The whole world is open to you. Who will you be?.. It’s time to roughen up and sharpen your edges. To remold yourselves as you begin this new adventure.”

Andriesen’s daughter, Madeline Andriesen, won the honor of serving as class valedictorian. She drew the night’s biggest laugh, arriving at the podium with a thick ream of papers she banged on the podium, suggesting an hours-long speech.

She encouraged classmates to take extra steps in their lives. “Don’t just exist, but live. Will Rogers once said, ‘Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.’ We need to make sure we do more than just head in the right direction. Be one step ahead. Be inspiring.”

The ceremony was interspersed by musical performances led by school band director Jason Muccino. The concert choir performed “Lean On Me,” with solos by Madeline Andriesen, Alyx Habra and Rachel Haas. Graduate Dylan Palmieri and brothers Keegan and Brennan performed “Rivers and Roads,” by The Head and the Heart.

Catherine Karsten of Philadelphia, Pa., was in the bleachers to see graduate Cameron Bauer receive his diploma. She said she doesn’t attend many graduations but described the Haines ceremony as “charming.”

Scholarships awarded to graduates and alumni during a service earlier in the day included: University of Alaska Scholars, $12,000 over four years: Madeline Andriesen, Alyx Habra, Mori Hays; Alaska Performance Scholarship: Madeline Andriesen, Ketch Jacobson, Mori Hays, Alyx Habra, Faith Lockhart, Dylan Palmieri, and Jordan Stigen; University of Montana, $15,000, Ketch Jacobson; American Legion, $500 each, Madeline Andriesen, Dylan Palmieri, Jordan Stigen; American Legion Auxiliary, $250 each, Madeline Andriesen, Dylan Palmieri, Jordan Stigen; Dick Hotch Memorial, $1,000 each, Ketch Jacobson, Kayley Swinton, Kelsey Taylor; Haines Volunteer Fire Department, $500 each, Madeline Andriesen, Dylan Palmieri, Jordan Stigen, Jess Giddings, Autumn Gross, Kayley Swinton; Lynn Canal Conservation, $500, Madeline Andriesen; Uglys of Haines, $1,000 each, Ketch Jacobson, Kyle Canfield, $2,500 to Gabrielle Galinski, $5,000 to Jacob Stigen; Alaska Native Sisterhood, $500 each, Autumn Gross, Jenae Larson, Jordan Stigen and Kelsey Taylor; Haines Woman’s Club, $750 each, Alyx Habra, Mori Hays, Jenae Larson; Chilkat Valley News Raymond R. Menaker Writing Award, $1,000, Mori Hays; Juneau Lions Club, $1,000, Madeline Andriesen; Haines Education Association and School Staff, $1,000 each, Madeline Andriesen, Jordan Stigen, $500 each, Autumn Gross, Kayley Swinton; Delta Western, $10,000 over four years, Madeline Andriesen; National Garden Club, $4,000, Libby Jacobson; New Hope Fellowship, $2,140, Jordan Stigen; Eric McDowell Award, Mori Hays and Jordan Stigen; UAF Cornerstone Award, $5,000, Madeline Andriesen; UAA Engineering Dean’s Excellence Award, $12,000 over four years, Alyx Habra.