Graduates: Don't be afraid to get involved, and don't forget to laugh

"Straight A" (4.0 grade point average) honorees are, top from left: Peyton Stagemeyer, Megan Siebrandt, Logan Kircher and Luke Lichty; principal Jerry Smith presented their trophies. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCook, Nebraska, Public Schools board of education member Bob Elder hugs the stuffings out of McCook High School senior and graduate London Scott during commencement Sunday afternoon in the Peter & Dolores Graff Events Center on the McCook Community College campus Sunday afternoon. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Student speakers at McCook, Nebraska, Senior High's 2015 graduation ceremony told fellow students it's going to be OK even if the world is scary, and that it would be a tragedy if they shied away from people and things because they aren't curious about them.

The third let them know it's OK to laugh at themselves.

One-hundred-and-nine graduating seniors crossed the stage on a Mother's Day afternoon to receive their diplomas from board of education members in the Peter & Dolores Graff Events Center on the McCook Community College campus.

Class members selected as their motto a quote by Walt Disney: "We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we're curious ... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

Senior Anna Graff expounded on Disney's "curiosity" theme, telling her classmates to foster their curiosity. Anna said, "We can fear change, or be curious about it. Curiosity can lead to exactly what we need. It would be a tragedy to shy away from people and things because we aren't curious about them."

Fellow senior Elizabeth Broadfoot encouraged her classmates not to fear the world. "Everyone has prepared us for this," she said, explaining that their parents have taught them how to love and be loved, that teachers have taught them to form their own thoughts and how to solve problems, and that their coaches have taught them that they must never give up.

Winners of the student-elected "Bison" awards are Alaini Priebe and Luke Lichty. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

Senior Isaac Langan said that society can see "future doctors and lawyers" among his classmates. But to the board of education, he grinned, "Don't get your hopes up. We're all going to be broke for the next six to eight years."

He also joked that although their teachers and administration "have made our lives tough, we've made their lives much tougher."

Langan described himself as a freshman as "pale, pasty, short, and scared of the future." As a graduating senior, his description is, "pale, pasty and short, with something of an outline figured out for his life."

Student speaker were Elizabeth Broadfoot, (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

Superintendent Grant Norgaard described the Class of 2015 as "a good group of learners and leaders." He said it's been fun watching them grow into "mature young adults ... mission-oriented young men and women. They will do much to affect the world."

MHS Principal Jerry Smith encouraged those gathered for graduation to look at the long list of scholarships and awards presented to graduates. "We thank the community for supporting our students," Smith said.

Seniors selected fellow classmates Alaini Priebe and Luke Lichty as winners of the coveted "Bison" award, presented each year to the female and male student who most display citizenship, loyalty and service, and promote positive rapport among students.

Student speaker Anna Graff. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

The high school's choir, including six graduating seniors, sang, "I was Here."

Officers for the MHS Class of 2015 are Langan, president; John Paul Kain, vice president; Aubrey Sydow, secretary; and Faith Johnson, treasurer. The class flower is the white rose; class colors are red, white and blue. Class sponsors are Brent May and Fred Gleason.

The class song is "Live Like We're Dying," by The Script.

Student speaker Isaac Langen. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

Honor students are:

4.0 grade point average

Logan Kircher, Luke Lichty, Megan Siebrandt and Peyton Stagemeyer.

3.5 grade point average or higher (not in any particular order):

Rachel Gordine, Alaini Priebe, Taylor Geisler, Amanda Slattery, Hannah Goodenberger, Elizabeth Broadfoot, Emily Karr, Anna Kennedy, Isaac Langan, Hayley Werkmeister, Caleb Griger, Mitchell Reitz, Erica Wood, Kaity Elder, Bryce Lyons, Samuel Backer, Anna Graff, Kylie Allen, Hannah Esch, Johsette Witt, Colton Molcyk, Bradley Cox, Kerrigan Klein, Rebekah Huff, Allison Priddy, Lexis Jones and Aubrey Sydow.

3.0-3.499 grade point average (not in any particular order)

Andrew Messersmith, Faith Johnson, Kasey Taylor, Ashley Laurie, Dane Larington, Molly Hardin, Kristin Blank, Colton Sis, Brenda Aguirre, Bailey Kool, Chance Koetter, Spencer Powell, Tyler Kotschwar, Haley McRae, Dalton Koetter, Michaela Hoyt, Weston Richards, Jessi Barenberg, Marlys Brenning, Frank Williams, Kathy Miner, London Scott, Dania Wiemers, Andrew Heskett and Fatima Cruz.