Jefferson City High School class valedictorian Michaela Thomson urged her fellow graduates to "treasure the little moments" as they celebrated one big moment on Sunday: the graduation of 578 students.
Treasure your mothers' hugs, the excitement of your dog when you walk through the front door, walking through the JCHS hallways, and seeing friends during lunch, she said to the school's 142nd graduating class.
She recalled glare of the Friday night lights as students screamed for the Jays, seniors' trip to Rio de Janeiro, the end of assemblies when seniors rushed to the gym floor, the JC-Helias rivalry and the times when the class was entertained by the musical abilities of classmates.
"The best is yet to come, but these are the snapshots and moments that we will remember the most," she said. "So make sure to hug your mom a little tighter in these coming months, because what used to be a common snapshot and part of your everyday life won't be any more.
"Let's leave no stone unturned and live every moment to the fullest and with no regrets," she said.
She thanked the families and teachers, and administrators, telling them "every moment matters in getting us to where we are today."
To the teachers, she said: "We couldn't do it without the best teachers in the nation right behind us. They're always willing to come early and stay late."
Class President Ellie Severance also spoke, telling her fellow graduates that over the past 13 years, they've spent around 2,300 days, more than 16,000 hours and almost 1 million minutes in school. It has been filled with much more than classroom learning, she said.
"Friendships have been formed, sporting events have been won, dances have been attended, and memories have been made," she said. "There are so many life lessons learned along the way."
She thanked the graduates' families for their support: "They say it takes a village to raise a child. Thank you all for being a village."
StuCo President Haley Watson reflected on some of the memorable moments in their high school careers.
"Think with me about the seats in the Little Theater, and how they held people whose bodies were shaking with laughter as Gavin DeWitt serenaded our new principal, Mr. James, in the Mr. JC Pageant."
The lunch trays, she said, "have overheard hundreds of conversations on dates for dances and weekend plans and how Bosco Sticks are actually really good."
She recalled Elijah Henderson riding out in his scooter in Fleming Fieldhouse to be homecoming king, and falling rose pedals in the gym as students swayed to "Good Riddance" during Senior Sing.
JCHS Principal Robert James said if JCHS students and graduates take advantage of everything the school has to offer, there's nothing they won't be able to accomplish.
Among the class' honorees were 95 members of the National Honor Society; five members of the German National Honor Society; six members of Tri-M, the National Music Honor Society; 25 members of the Student Council; eight members of the yearbook staff; two members of the Medical Club and graduating seniors entering the military.
The class graduated 20 salutatorians, with grade point averages above 4.0 as well as 10 class members with GPAs between 3.95 and 3.99.
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