Greg Jones| For The Republic Class salutatorian Jonas Fleenor speaks during the Hauser graduation May 27, 2022.
HOPE – One of the largest senior classes in the history of Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School graduated inside the school’s gymnasium Friday.
Compared to a four-year average of 58 graduates, a total of 79 students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. That number reflects the 4.1% overall growth in population Hope has experienced during the past 20 years.
In the opinion of FHSC superintendent Shawn Price, the Class of 2022 will be remembered primarily for their perseverance.
“They have been through a lot during the last two years, especially with the pandemic,” Price said. “There are already enough challenges just navigating your way through normal high school. But this was a class that stuck to it and managed to come through their ordeals even stronger.”
In their respective addresses, valedictorian Callie Swegman and salutatorian Jonas Fleenor spent time reflecting on fond memories and activities.
Swegman, who tops Hauser’s Class of 22, quoted vocalist Taylor Swift’s song ‘22’ to express the conflicting feelings that she and many of her fellow graduates were experiencing.
“Yeah, we’re happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time
It’s miserable and magic, oh yeah
Tonight’s the night when we forget about the deadlines
It’s time, oh-oh”
Fleenor reflected back on his early days of public school – a time when he felt out of place and had few friends.
“But I felt like I found my own people when I came to Hauser,” the salutatorian said.
Admitting that high school isn’t easy for anyone, Fleenor cited specific educators for “teaching us to push our own limits – even after we lost all motivation to do so.”
Hauser principal Kris Fortune said if he had to use one word to describe the Class of 2022, it would be “resilient.” Despite all the obstacles, 25% were still able to graduate with an academic honors diploma. An additional 19% graduated with both technical and academic honors. A group of 29 of the graduating seniors will share more than $705,500 in scholarships and grants.
“That is something I am very proud of,” said Fortune, who succeeded Dr. David Wintin as Hauser principal last summer.
Price recalls that the 2021-2022 school year began with hopes that COVID-19 would not be as much of a consideration as it was the previous year.
“But it definitely was – especially through the first semester,” Price said. “It was a challenge that we did have to navigate. We were taking precautions all the way up to spring break such as monitoring and tracking numbers. But after we returned, the numbers subsided from that point on.”
For the family and friends who sat in the bleachers Friday night, commencement was an occasion to take pride and celebrate without reservations.
But for graduates such as Zackary Cossell, it also meant being forced to come to grips that your life is about to change forever. It means realizing you may never see a number of of your classmates again, a number of graduates said.
“It really didn’t hit me until we got to the stage,” Cossell said. “I was trying not to cry and be nervous at the same time. I mean, it’s overwhelming.”
However, Cossell said he is also experiencing a sense of relief because it is now time to move on to the next chapter in his life.
