‘Bittersweet’ year closes for 84 seniors

Cedar Grove-Belgium High School valedictorian Bryce Ketterhagen put his pen where his mouth was on Sunday.

His valedictorian’s address focused on the power of words. He came up with one to capture each year of high school.

Freshmen year, he said, was “daunting.” His class was no longer king of the middle school but on the bottom rung of the high school.

By the time sophomore year came around, Ketterhagen said, students were “optimistic.” As juniors, they were “confident.”

When senior year arrived, it was “bittersweet,” he said. “Nothing could describe how fast this year went.”

Ketterhagen quoted Proverbs 16:24, which reads, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones,” and challenged every graduate to “genuinely compliment” someone every day for the next 365.

He got his initiative started while crafting his speech. He thought of a word for each of his 83 classmates, and asked them to reach under their seats. There, Ketterhagen had placed index cards, where he printed each classmate’s word, its definition and an explanation.

Principal Josh Ketterhagen, Bryce’s father, became emotional a couple of times while addressing the crowd, knowing that this graduation ceremony was a little different than others.

The keynote speakers were four retiring middle school teachers who have a combined 114 years in the district.

Principal Ketterhagen roughly estimated that they have impacted the lives of 2,000 students.

“For that, we thank you,” he said.

Eighth-grade math teacher Kathy Gee told grads that she followed their activities in high school, often attending athletic events.

Fifth-grade English and language arts teacher Gail Gonwa recalled receiving a sympathy card from a few students. It read, “We’re sorry that you had to lose three of the greatest students that you ever had,” and included plenty of photos.

Gonwa was also touched by her homeroom students sneaking into a room and having a group photo taken, which they later presented to her.

Sixth-grade English and language arts teacher Laura Hatfield reminded grads that “they are loved” by their family and God.

Eighth-grade social studies teacher Tim Hatfield, Laura’s husband, advised grads to see work as a way to serve others as well as a way to make money.

Supt. Jeanne Courneene told graduates they each have a unique story and to follow the dreams in their heart and if there’s a thank you to be sent, send it.

“I say to you thank you for the incredible amount of joy you have given to us,” she said.