Class of 2020 Holds Long-Awaited Commencement Ceremony
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBy: Leigh High School Journalism staff
“We did not pick the room. We did not pick the music. But because we are here, we might as well dance.”
Leigh High School Class of 2020 senior Reagan Settje chose to begin her valedictorian speech with this quote from Stephen King to describe the 2020 seniors’ unique and disappointing road to graduation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Leigh High School administration, faculty, and staff were proud to announce the graduation of this year’s senior class on Friday, July 31, at the Leigh High School gym. This year’s class included 10 students.
Dance and celebrate they did, as Leigh and other area schools finally were able to hold commencement exercises due to the coronavirus pandemic delaying a traditional May graduation. It was concurrently the first “socially distanced” ceremony, the first ceremony to be held in July, and the last ceremony to be held in the current Leigh High gym.
The class of 2020 was the final class to graduate from the high school building constructed in 1907, as the coming year’s students prepare to hold classes in the new school.
The ceremony began with a video slideshow presentation, followed by the procession of seniors to “Fanfare and Processional” played by pianist and LHS choir director Cindy Settje. Class of 2017 salutatorian, Natalie Reeves, gave the welcome address. Later, Reagan Settje gave the valedictorian speech.
The seniors presented flowers to their parents, and guidance counselor Karen Hillen presented the scholarships. Superintendent Stephanie Petersen presented the seniors, and School Board President Kamin Held awarded the diplomas.
Reeves, who is also senior class President, gave the closing address and thanked everyone for coming. Cindy Settje played the theme of “High School Musical” as the recessional.
The Class of 2020 chose “Chapters” by Brett Young as their class song. Their class flower is the Gerber Daisy, and class colors are turquoise, coral, and silver. Their class motto is “We didn’t realize we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun” by Winnie the Pooh.
The seniors, their future plans, and scholarship awards are listed below. Congratulations and best of luck to the Class of 2020!
Carson Ahrens
Carson plans to attend Northeast Community College as an Electrician major. He was awarded the Susan Buffett Scholarship and the Northeast Community College Peter Kiewit Scholarship.
Abbigail Brabec
Abbi plans to Wayne State College as an Early Childhood Education major. She was awarded the Leigh Fire Department Scholarship, Jan Fuhr Memorial Scholarship, Red Cross/FCCLA Scholarship, and the Wayne State Dean’s Commitment Scholarship.
Hannah Dronsett
Hannah was a foreign exchange student from Norway. Her stay in America was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. She plans to finish another year of high school in Norway this coming year.
Taya Gross
Taya plans to attend Wayne State College as a Special Education major.
Taylor Larson
Taylor plans to attend Northeast Community College as a Business Administration and Fashion Marketing major. She was awarded the Krupka/Cada Memorial Scholarship, Nebraska Dairy Association Scholarship, Nebraska Vet Services Scholarship, Nebraska Farm Bureau Scholarship, and the Northeast Community College Dean’s Scholarship.
Payje Rayback
Payje plans to attend Wayne State College as a Family and Consumer Science Education major. She was awarded the Sons of the Legion Scholarship, Leigh Education Association Scholarship, Lavern Went Memorial Scholarship, Leigh Alumni Association Scholarship, Irene Gobler/Legion Auxiliary Scholarship, Aaron Cech Memorial Scholarship, Leigh American Legion Scholarship, KTIC Russ Herman Memorial Scholarship; Susan Buffett Scholarship, James M. Cox Foundation Scholarship, Red Cross/FCCLA Scholarship, and the Wayne Wildcat Excellence Year 1 Scholarship
Natalie Reeves
Natalie plans to attend Mount Marty College as a Nursing major. She was awarded the John & MIchele Hollatz Scholarship, Leigh Rescue Unit Scholarship, Paul Hollatz Memorial Scholarship,
Vickie Wietfeld Memorial Scholarship, Jim & Helen Evans Memorial Scholarship, Aaron Cech Memorial Scholarship, Sara Reichmuth Memorial Scholarship, Whitetail LLC Scholarship, James M. Cox Foundation Scholarship, St. Bede Scholarship, Catholic Leadership Scholarship, and the Mount Marty Academic Scholarship
Alexis Schroeder
Lexi plans to attend Northeast Community College as a Welding major. She was awarded the Nick Wieseler Memorial Scholarship, Lyle Hamernik Memorial Scholarship, Rick Charipar Memorial Scholarship, Leonard & Elsie Engel Memorial Scholarship,Sandy Pine Systems Scholarship, and the Krupka/Cada Memorial Scholarship.
Reagan Settje
Reagan plans to attend Wayne State College as an Elementary Education major. She was awarded the Terri Wietfeld Memorial Scholarship, Jay Blessen Memorial Scholarship, John & Michele Hollatz Memorial Scholarship, Patriot Booster Club Scholarship, Patriot Youth Advisory Scholarship, Citizen’s State Bank Scholarship, Leigh Community Club Scholarship, Cooperative Supply Scholarship, Lisa Kuta Settje Memorial Scholarship, FEVB (Van Buren) Memorial Scholarship, and the Wayne State Board of Trustees Scholarship.
Morgan Voborny
Morgan plans to attend Northeast Community College or work in ranching. He was awarded the Northeast Community College Pork Producers Scholarship and the Northeast Community College Hyacinth Harsh Memorial Scholarship.