Beatrice High School Class of 2023 moves on to next stages
Class remembered as respectful, with an eye toward kindness
By News Channel Nebraska
BEATRICE – One-hundred-thirty seniors received their diplomas during commencement Sunday, at the O-Zone, at Beatrice Senior High School. It’s a class that featured eight co-valedictorians earning a 4.0 grade point average throughout high school, and 48 honor students earning at least a 3.5 grade point average.
The graduating class also earned a total of about $1.2 million in scholarships or grants to further their education or training. High School Principal Jason Sutter says there’s one thing in particular that for which he’ll remember this class. "You are wonderful in the way you treat others. You are one of the kindest classes I've seen go through Beatrice High School. You are respectful, you're caring....you're just fun and wonderful to be around. Having those qualities is very unusual, and will set you apart from others as you move forward in whatever you plan to take on, as graduates. Very unusual, is a good thing."
Senior Trey Baehr was one of the graduating class speakers for this year’s commencement. "I wanted to come up and tell each and every one of you guys, how unbelievably proud I am of you....and you guys can accomplish amazing things."
Graduating Senior Riley Schwisow was the student representative this year on the Beatrice School Board, and a speaker at commencement. She said the class faced challenges such as going through a pandemic, and temporary setbacks because of that. But she said it will make the graduating class stronger as it meets challenges in the future.
"I hope these four years will not be the greatest of your life. But, that you will all go on to find bigger and better things....greater opportunities, immense success and an abundance of love. Thank you teachers, administrators, parents, friend and the Beatrice Class of 2023...for giving us a great four years of our lives."
Co-Valedictorians of the BHS Class of 2023 were Olivia Achtemeier, Avery Barnard, Breanna Chapman, Luke Feist, Grace Ideus, Riley Schwisow, Abigail Trantham and Jordan Zhang. The class motto was “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters, compared with what lies within us.”