On the morning of Saturday, May 11, friends, family, and community members gathered to celebrate the graduating Class of 2024. The class was comprised of Taytum Anderson*+-^♦, Elise Baiers*+-♦, Logan Brewer♦, Montana Collins^♦, Spencer Coup*+-♦, Brooklyn Dooley*+-, Damon Gaskins, Ashli Guzman*^-♦, Wyatt Howard♦, Porter Hynes♦, Spencer Krause*+-, Samuel Owens, Dakota Rice ♦, Zoey Smith^♦, Jake Sommer^, and Hayden Zerbe*+^♦. Although the graduating class was the smallest current class in all of the Solomon Schools, with only sixteen classmates, this class didn’t mind being small. They were close-knit and considered themselves like family. During a classmate’s speech, Spencer Krause said “Family, there’s truthfully no better word to describe us than that. I love all of you like my brothers and sisters.” Reflecting on their many memories together, Spencer Coup said during his speech, “This was a day that I’ve been looking forward to since freshman year…but now that the day is here, I’d do anything to be able to press rewind. If I were to give any advice to students that are still in high school, it’d be to slow down and take in the moment.”
Following a wonderful performance of The Graduation March, performed by the school band, High School Principal, Elizabeth Krause, welcomed everyone and said, “As I reflect on the senior class, I’m extremely proud of all of their accomplishments… but what I am most proud of is the great group of kids that they are. Their kindness towards one another in our school has changed Solomon High School, and we will continue to build on that legacy that they are leaving behind.”
Mr. Kevin Einhaus from the Solomon High School Scholarship Foundation then presented 10 scholarship recipients. This was the 30th year that the foundation has existed, and over the years they have given over $173,000 in scholarships to Solomon graduates. This year, $21,000 was awarded to the Class of 2024. Students awarded were Montana Collins, Jake Sommer, Zoe Smith, Ashli Guzman, Brooklyn Dooley, Spencer Coup, Spencer Krause, Wyatt Howard, Elise Baier, and Taytum Anderson.
Additionally, each year there is a Solomon Memorial Scholarship awarded. Presented by Superintendent Justin Coup, this scholarship is given in memory of loved ones lost during the past year who are connected to the school employees, former and present. This year, those honored and remembered were Randall Lake, Stanley Berven, James Davidson, Charlie Shirack, Rosella Arnold, Lorraine Ortman, Norman Helmke, and Merton Luce. This $700 scholarship was awarded to Montana Collins.
Each year, there are three additional awards. The KSHSSA Citizenship Award is awarded to one male and one female graduate who are proven to be the school’s most outstanding citizens, characterized by respect, responsibility, and reverence. This year, the award recipients were Brooklyn Dooley and Spencer Coup. The Marvin Brown Junior Memorial Award goes out to one male and one female who have exemplified what it means to be a Gorilla, through character, quiet work ethic, sportsmanship, and leadership both in the classroom and activities. Recipients of this award were Elise Baier and Spencer Coup. The Dale M Dennis Excellence in Education Award is given to a student who embodies integrity, honesty, a commitment to serving others, and common sense. This year’s recipient was Spencer Krause.
The selected guest speaker for the ceremony was teacher and coach, Mr. Luke Riordan. Riordan talked about his journey with the graduating class. Despite being a middle school teacher and having them for the first time when they were all 6th-grade students, he shared how proud he was to have been a part of coaching them in football, track, and basketball, and in his role as their class sponsor. Riordan said, “Over the last seven years watching all of you grow and accomplish so much has taught me the value of seeing what someone can become and not to judge someone based on who they are as a junior high student… Kids grow up and you all taught me that. I am a more patient teacher because of what I have learned by watching all of you.”
In the midst of cheers, tears, and proud smiles, the USD 393 graduation ceremony encapsulated a momentous chapter in the lives of these sixteen graduates. Congratulations to the Class of 2024, may they all remember the lessons learned, the friendships made, and the dreams ignited within these halls.
* Cum laude honors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
+ Member of the Gorilla Honor Society
- Kansas Scholar Completion
^ SATC Certificate
♦ CTE Pathway Completer