HOPE – A sense of normalcy and the appreciation of tradition could be felt Friday throughout the Hauser Jr.-Sr. High gymnasium as commencement exercises were held for the Class of 2021.
“I’m just so glad we were all able to get together to appreciate a little bit of regularity,” said Parker Whitson after watching her brother receive his diploma. “Even though we had to wear our masks, it was nice to just finally be around people again.”
Hauser graduate Justice Gilliland remembers when a 40-minute video showing seven seconds of each senior walking in front of the gym bleachers constituted most of last year’s commencement. The virtual ceremony was one of many precautions taken to keep the COVID-19 virus from spreading.
“I felt very lucky to get the opportunity to have an in-person graduation,” said Gilliland as several family members took photos after the event.
Valedictorian Aunaka Wasil, daughter of Nigel Wasil and DeAndrea Sargent, provided a light and humorous address as she reminded fellow graduates how fast time moves — and how soon it will be before they start getting nostalgic around youngsters about their years at Hauser.
But on a serious note, Wasil encouraged her classmates to follow their passions as adults, and to always remember that “once a Jet, always a Jet.”
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