On May 22, 2018, the Weber High class of 2018 gathered together on graduation day to accept their diplomas and advance into the world as adults. Until now, students had always donned the traditional black gowns for boys and red gowns for girls but this year all 601 graduates were unified in wearing red.
Families and friends filled the seats of the Dee Events Center eager to see their graduate and celebrate their big day.
Senior Class Officer, Trinity Douglas, started the ceremony by leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. A musical selection followed by the A Cappella Choir titled, “That Lonesome Road” by James Taylor.
Presentations of the Salutatorian and Valedictorian were given by Steve Short and Darlene Sangiorgio, both Vice Principals at Weber High.
Salutatorian, Elissa Bailey, earned a cumulative 4.0 GPA throughout high school even while taking 12 AP classes. She did not want to disclose her ACT score although it was considered “very high.”
Elissa performed with the Chamber and A Cappella choirs. She also involved herself in every school play throughout her high school years. Elissa is this year’s Sterling Scholar in vocal performance and was also a member of her academic Olympiad team. She will be attending BYU this fall on a full academic scholarship majoring in biostatistics.
Student speaker, Amber Healey, said, “Your every action makes a difference. It affects you and if affects someone else…you already are changing the world…we can turn our lives into whatever we want them to be.”
Valedictorian, Cooper Harrison, also received a 4.0 cumulative GPA, scoring a 4 or better on the test in each of his 13 AP classes, a composite score of 35 on the ACT and a perfect score of 36 in both math and English. He is the math Sterling Scholar for Weber High School and a State finalist Sterling Scholar.
Cooper also received the highest score in the state’s DECA Marketing Exam. He was accepted to 11 top-tier universities but narrowed down his choice to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to study Engineering and will consider continuing onto medical school. Cooper is also an incredible tennis player and has received the recognition of the #1 singles player for 4 straight years.
Cooper also had the opportunity to be involved with two internships. First, was an engineering internship with Good Ski Technologies. The second internship involved gathering research and data regarding the cost benefits of early tonsillectomies in young children.
As Valedictorian, Cooper Harrison spoke at the ceremony by saying, “The most important point I can impress upon you is to live your passion…it’s essential that we enjoy the ride…and not to fear failure…through overcoming problems and failures, we become more resilient.”
A beautiful musical selection, “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul was performed by the A Cappella Choir.
Kayleigh Anderson, Senior Class President gave some remarks and Principal Velden Wardle then presented the Class of 2018. Wardle highlighted the struggles and failures of President Abraham Lincoln and how he finally became our 16th President of the United States. Wardle also commented how he has grown close to the class of 2018.
As graduates were presented to the audience, there were cheers from all angles of the Dee Events Center. Colored cords on graduates were given according to the following: White=Highest Honor Roll- 4.0 GPA, Gold=High Honor Roll-3.8-3.999 GPA, Silver=CTE State Pathway Completers, Purple=Graduates with an Associate’s Degree, and Orange=Project Lead the Way Pathway Completers.
Wardle announced that the graduating class of 2018 has received the highest amount of money towards post-high school scholarships ever awarded to Weber High students.
It was amazing to see my own daughter join her classmates in accepting their diplomas. She was able to receive her CNA license while attending Weber High and plans to pursue nursing as her field of study. It was awesome to hear that many of her class mates plan to attend college and further their education.
Each of these graduates will go in a different direction in life. Each will follow their passions and go forward, well equipped for entering into adulthood—CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2018!!!
