WSHS awards 209 diplomas in memorable ceremony

Two hundred and nine diplomas. Hundreds of family members and friends in attendance. Three incredible speeches. Three incredible backflips. 

And, thankfully, not a single drop of rain. 

The 156th commencement ceremony for Winona Senior High School was one to remember Sunday at Paul Giel Field. The wind made keeping hair, tassels and stoles in place difficult, but the clouds provided protection from the sun even at the risk of uncertain weather. 

Three students delivered heartfelt, memorable speeches. 

In “The Art of Becoming,” Salome Tolvaisas reminded her fellow graduates to live in the moment and to not take anything for granted. 

“We will look back and remember how we wished away the time and how we couldn’t wait to leave,” Tolvaisas said. “But we will spend a lifetime searching for the same passion, intensity and spontaneity of being young.”

Rodney Knutson shared his personal struggles with worrying about what others thought about him. He encouraged — and demanded — that his fellow graduates and those in attendance treat others with respect and celebrate the positive aspects of their peers. 

“If we start celebrating the positive traits in people, our relationships with others will blossom … but so will our relationships with ourselves,” Knutson said. “When focusing on the positives, we grow as individuals.”

Kiley Pollock urged her fellow graduates to live life like a lobster. Recalling a lesson from teacher Maeve Peterson, Pollock remarked that we can all learn a lot from a lobster, which continues to grow despite a rigid exoskeleton that never changes. 

“I believe a few crucial lessons can be learned from a lobster,” Pollock said “Firstly, pressure is a gift. Secondly, do not settle for mediocrity.

“It is in the most difficult times that we learn the most about ourselves as individuals. I am certain that everyone seated before me today will experience a different walk of life. But I am equally certain that we will all experience difficulties and hardships. I urge you to grow from these hardships rather than dwell on them.”

In his first graduation speech since becoming principal, Nathan Warneke told graduates that they will always have a home at 901 Gilmore Ave. 

“One of the best parts of being your principal is that when I look out at this class, I don’t just see 209 graduates. I see 209 stories that are still being written,” Warneke said. “I see future teachers, nurses, mechanics, entrepreneurs, parents, community leaders and people who will make a difference in ways they can’t even yet imagine.”

The ceremony also featured performances by the WSHS band and choir. 

The graduates include: 

Anton Abrashev, Naser Mohammad Naser Adosari, Berenice Aguilar Silva, Wyatt Jerome Daniel Allison, Owen Robert Allred, Alyssa Anderson, Spencer Maxwell Andring, Westley David Barnard, Noah Ethan Becker, Morgan Elizabeth Bedor, Savannah Jane Bell, Emily Ellen Benke, Hannah Marjorie Benter, Hope Leeanne Berse, Mallory Jane Biesanz, Trenton Raymond Birkeneder, Kayla Marie Birthman-Hawkins, Connor Andrew Blom, Emilee Ann Bolduan, Madeline Mae Booher, Nolan Borchardt, Destiny Grace Bowden, Trinity Lynn Brinkmeier, Lluvia T Briones-Andreen, Ashley Jean Brommerich, Evangeline Avayah Brooks, Ailiana Violet Jay Brown, Hadyn Mary Brown, Myles John Bruemmer, Marshall Robert Buerck, Tatum Elaine Bunke, Bruce Edward Calteaux, Cinnamon Rae Carpenter, Emma Jane Casselman, Manuel Jesus Cendejas, Amanda Elizabeth Chesher, Kenneth Clayborn, Julia Rose Cyert.

Maryah Andrea Jewel Davis, Levi James Denisen, Emma Elizabeth Diggins, Aubrey Brielle Ebertowski, Connor Vern Ellinghysen, Zakari Da'breon Epps, Quilon Paul Erdmanczyk, Parker Jay Fassbender, Devin Andrew Filzen, Aiden Zachery Foegen, Avery Joelle Foss, Alyster Lee Fox, Korbin Glen Jerome Frie, Alexandria Anne Fullington, Anastasia Elaine Garcia, Cohen Aridy Gebhardt, Madilyn Elizabeth Gibbs, Isaiah Patrick Glaze, Samantha Rae Going, Carlos Miguel Gonzalez, Adelyn Marie Graham, Elizabeth Bernice Graner, Riley Jordan Grinsteinner, Clara Marie Hammer, Tristen John Hareldson, Anilise Birgit Helgeson, Andrew Kent Heltemes, Lucas Garrett Heltemes, Ava Rose Henderson, Trequan Marshawn Henderson, Shawn Norman Hicks, Jolie Ellen Marie Hill, Brandt Samuel Hogenson, Kiara Nasary Irias Talavera, Kenley Jo Jacobs, Isaac Ryan Jaskola, Cooper Michael Johnson, Mitchell Thomas Jones, Piper Jane Jones.

Tawaun Edward Dorrell Jones, Alexis Faith Jorgensen, Leah Catherine Kalscheuer, Deacon Han Kelner, Noah Edward Kiese, Dayneiri Aquavion Paris Lamore Kimani, Vivian Louise Kimber, Brianna Jean Klawiter, Kylie Louise Klawiter, Rodney Allen Knutson, Cameron Kolstad, Adelaide Francis Krase, Mason Ray Kujak, Jacob Bennett Lange, Braelyn Rose Lano, Jarek Solomen Lapides, Ahlexa Karen-Christine Larson, Greta Josephine Larson, Grant Charles Leach, Jackson Thomas Leach, Lilliana Josephine LeGere, Lydia Joy Lippman, America Yazlyn Lopez, Claire Elizabeth Lynch, Tucker Daniel Mandelkow, Rylan Lucas Marish, Caiden Aaron Mathot, Samuel Matousek, Navianna Precious Rose McAbee, Ruby May McCormick, Alexis Hannah McElmury, Joseph James McKenzie, Chase Andrew Meadows, Jacqueline Rose Meinke, August Patrick Menton, McKenna Jean Meyer, Jex Sarah Millen, Ashlee Jo Miller.

Peter Addison Miller, Matthew Robert Motz, Tabitha Eden Mulkey, Morgan Elsie Mulyck, Malayah Lynn Murdock, Aubrie Kate Musta, Alena Lynn Navarro, Elijah Allyn Nelson, Matilda Newton, Carter William Niemeyer, Parker James O'Hara, Panfilo Adelay Olivo Gongora, Rodrigo Ortiz, Josie LaMae Palmer, Kara Lynn Palmquist, Emerson James Papenfuss, Kallan Charles Pehler, Cassidy Rae Peplinski, Logan Thomas Pericak, Alexis Victoria Peterson, Abbigail R Petit, Anastacia Grace Petty, Jaylin Marquis Pierre, CallaJohanna Pike, Jadon Kekoa Pizarro, Jaxon Keoni Pizarro, Evan Michael Plein, Kiley Rosemary Pollock, Sarah Nicole Polus, Carson David Prodzinski, Ethan John Pruka, Gabriella Rose Putz, Aiden James Albert Quandt, Paxton Raymond, Bella Rose Reeck, Robert Richard Reiff, Avani Roka, Kaidyn Nicole Rolbiecki, Andrue Michael Rose.

Maxwell Steven Rumpca, Kylee Jessa Russeau, Lillian Rose Sabotta, Lucy Elizabeth Sanders, Andreya Kay Sauers, Eleanor Grace Schantzen, Lyric Amore Schlesner, Kaidyn Jerimya Schneider, Alexis Kathryn Schossow, Drake Dean Schossow, Lani Beatrice Schul, Jaydan Anthony Schultz, Samuel Charles Schultz, Anastasia Joy Schulz, Apollo Dakota Lee Schulz, Amaya Jessica Scott, Phillippa Joneatha Serleth, Quincy Trevon Shelton, Devin Jack Shields, Elina Claire Skranka, Bennett Ray Smeby, Anastasia Marie Smith, Robert Jason Snow, Carlos Daniel Soriano Ortiz, Rachel Teresa Spartz, Adyson Renee Speltz, Jaeliah Mae Squires, Ashton Joseph Stanford, Cole Ada Louise Stangl, Logen Harley Stark, Nathan Steinbach, David Patrick Stewart, Teagan Lee Storm, Lya Nevaeh Stovall, Abby Jo Stratton, Ayden William Scott Streater.

Violet Moon Streater, Madelynn Marie Strobush, Carter Robert Sveum, Samuel Marshall Swanson, Aja Diane Syrmopoulos, Isaac Lee Talle, Cyrus Daniel Theis, Miranda Lacey Rose Thill, Peyton Neil Thomas, Tori Ann Thompson, Andrea Thompson-Lee, Landon John Timm, Salome Nicole Tolvaisas, Devyn Thomas Turkowski, Arie Jakob Van Tol, Ryker Joseph Vanderzee, Jocelyn Villarreal Chavez, Nikoli James Volkman, Autumn Lynn Wadewitz, Nina Marjorie-Ann Wagner, Lily Grace Walters, Brady Michael Wardwell, ShaNiya Elaine Elizabeth Washington, Seth Chapman Watkins, Zachary Ross Wilken, Kodie Ryan Wimbish, Alexander Windley-Daoust, Zayah May Wobig, Jacob Matthew Woidyla, Joshua Michael Woidyla, Justin Lloyd Woyczik, Aryana Lee Wyman, Meiyoko Pa Choua Blai Xiong, Jacob Francis Yender, Ryan Francis Yender.