'We were separated physically, but always connected in our hearts'

After a school year filled with upended routines, unprecedented challenges, and, above all, uncertainty, 270 students from Niwot High came together on May 29 to mark the end of their high school journeys. For IB programme valedictorian Carter Kruse, graduation was also a chance to reflect on the positives that emerged during the pandemic year, and the importance of connectivity beyond Webex and Zoom.

"Without question, our senior year was a memorable one," the future Dartmouth student said during his address. "The coronavirus pandemic dramatically impacted how we attended school. We were separated physically, but always connected in our hearts through our experiences. I applaud all of you for overcoming the personal challenges you faced given the obstacles of this year. Despite the difficulties, you persevered, and you did so with grace and alongside others."

Perseverance in the face of adversity was a common theme among both the student and administration speakers, but for Niwot principal Eric Rauschkolb, it was also important to remember that there had also been "a lot of good news," during the year, including athletic championships, international Thespian awards, and record-setting scholarship amounts.

"And lastly, we were able to safely return to in-person learning," he said. "All sports were played, the fine arts soldiered on, we had a senior luncheon, we had a senior class photo, we had a car parade, and we had a great prom that about half of our seniors attended thanks to [student council]. So we finished in a really great fashion."

With very few state or county restrictions on outdoor gatherings, the 2021 ceremony was more traditional than not, with no mask or social distancing requirements. However, graduates were limited to six guests, and groups sat in small pods on the football field, then seniors lined up in small groups for their diplomas.

The crowd also heard from Niwot's IB Coordinator Elizabeth Towlen, and Karen Ragland, doing double duty as the parent of graduating senior Cynthia Ragland and a St. Vrain Valley school board member. The student speakers were student council president Ben Goff, who is headed to the University of South Carolina on a ROTC scholarship, Kruse, and traditional program and Tufts-bound Victoria Isuani, who thanked Principal Rauschkolb for "giving us the most normal senior year possible under the pandemic circumstances," and urged her classmates to "be kind" as they venture out into the world.

"High school was hard. Today we celebrate the end of an era. But it's also the beginning of new chapters in our lives. Let's continue to be kind as we embark on new journeys. Let's be kind always. Be kind to yourself, to others, to those you know and don't know, and to our planet."

See more photos here.