Pat Seifert ended her 40-year tenure with Helias Catholic High School with humor and encouragement, telling Sunday's graduates to continue to strongly believe in God's guiding hand.
"You are our future," she said. "Please make each day count. And may God be at your side."
Seifert was the keynote speaker as 182 seniors graduated at Ray Hentges Stadium. That included the posthumous awarding of a diploma to Stephanie Dallmeyer, who died April 26. Her parents went on the stage to accept her diploma.
"I encourage you to be life-long learners," Seifert said. "Also, I encourage you to find a career you makes you happy. For 40 years, I have been paid to read and write every day, two things that I love."
This year's graduates have been offered a combined more than $3 million in scholarships, including $478,500 worth of A+ scholarships.
Seifert joked almost all of the graduates have had the same three friends since grade school: Google, copy and paste.
"Please do not every let anyone rain on your parade, and if they do, hold on really hard to your umbrella," she said. "I hope you will surround yourself with people who lift you up and not tear you down."
Student Council President Raygan Hamilton also spoke, noting the many accomplishments of her class, in, among other things, athletics, music and performing a total of more than 16,000 hours of community service to the community while students at Helias.
"I believe our class has been a prime example of how great God is," she said.
Five seniors earned the John Baptist De La Salle Service Award for contributing 500 or more hours of service over their high school years: Dallmeyer, Emilia Godwin, Logan Mathews, Kyle Prenger and Emma Schaefer.
"No matter how anxious we are about the future or wherever we go, God will always be with us," Hamilton said. "And it is because of his presence we will succeed in the years to come."
The Scripture reading for Sunday's ceremony was from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 28:10-16. In it, Jacob has a dream in which the Lord says to him: "the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and through them you will spread to the west and the east, to the north and the south. In you and your descendants all the families of the earth will find blessing. I am with you and will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."
The Class of 2022 includes 19 students with a 4.0 GPA, 12 Bright Flight scholars, 87 eligible for A+ scholarships and two graduates committed to service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Previously presented awards include the Father Helias Award, recognizing outstanding contribution to Helias Catholic, which went to Tyler Sandbothe and Eliza Pierce. The American Legion Citation, recognizing leadership, scholarship and service, went to Sam Hentges and Gabrielle Bax. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, recognizing citizenship, scholarship and good attendance, was given to Lee Holloway and Livia Bloomer.
CORRECTION: Pat Seifert finished a 40-year tenure at Helias Catholic High School. This article was edited at 10:45 a.m. May 23, 2022, to correct the number of years in the text above.
Helias graduation video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1V3vAVabI
Helias Catholic High School celebrates the graduating senior class on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City. Keynote speaker Mrs. Seifert delivers her remarks to the graduating class. (Kate Cassady/News Tribune photo)
Helias Catholic High School celebrates the graduating senior class on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City. Tyler Sandbothe reads Genesis 28 to the crowd. (Kate Cassady/News Tribune photo)
Helias Catholic High School celebrates the graduating senior class on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City. Hannah McAllister, left, fixes MaKenna Bailey's tassel before walking to her seat. (Kate Cassady/News Tribune photo)