NRHEG class of 2016 to graduate Sunday
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
A total of 63 students, many of whom have known each other since preschool, will gather as a group for the final time Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m., as the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School class of 2016 graduates.
This year’s Valedictorian is Jessica Nafe, daughter of Terry and Karen Nafe. She was NRHEG’s homecoming queen last fall and is involved in almost everything. She plans to attend Bethel University with a major in organizational communications and a minor in Spanish. Nafe’s favorite teacher was Mrs. Bently.
Her advice: “Don’t be afraid to try new clubs and sports! You’re only in high school once so make the most of it!”
Co-Salutatorians are Nicole Edon and Torrie Stencel, both involved in too many activities to list.
Edon, daughter of Eric and Mary Edon, will attend Northwestern University in St. Paul, and said she had too many favorite teachers to name them all.
“Don’t take anything for granted and give everything you have,” Edon advises fellow students.
Stencel, daughter of Todd Stencel and Sarah Raimann, enjoyed having Mrs. Engel for a teacher and advises others, “Don’t worry so much about the little things.”
Stencel will attend the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse to pursue a degree in occupational therapy.
Nearly two-thirds of the seniors to receive diplomas on Sunday will graduate with honors.
The motto for the class of 2016 is, “Together we have experienced life. Separately we will pursue our dreams. Forever our memories will remain.”
The class colors are purple, silver and black, the class flower is the purple gerba daisy and the class officers are Nafe, Anna Bailey, Abby Christopherson, Sophia Fischer and Dempsey Tucker.
Commencement speakers, selected by their peers, will be Christopherson, John Cole, and Cole Ignaszewski.
The NRHEG High School Band will perform and senior Nicole Wallin will sing two musical selections.
It will be the first NRHEG commencement for superintendent Dale Carlson and the third for high school principal David Bunn.
Graduating as honor students are Nafe, Edon, Stencel, Bailey, Christopherson, Cole, Sophia Fischer, Ignaszewski, Tucker, Wallin, Trevor Beckstrand, Emily Eder, Zeke Erickson, Jorey Fischer, Lizzy Hagen, Destiny Hill, Trey Hoppe, John Hubly, Ryley Koziolek, Katharine Lewer, Grace Logan, Anna Lundberg, Eli Lutgens, Whittney McCamish, Marissa Mortenson, Luke Overgaard, Marshall Pederson, Cordell Peterson, Corrie Powell, Tyler Schlaak, Hailey Schuller, Aaron Seath, Nick Shultz, Luke Stenzel, Taylar Tieskotter, Abby Wacholz, Kayanna Wibben and Trai Wicks.