Seeley-Swan High School graduates toss their caps in the air at the end of the commencement ceremony. Twenty-one seniors received their diplomas on Sunday, June 4.
Seeley Lake Elementary junior high teacher Duane Schlabach gave the commencement address to the class of 2017.
Trinitey Bartlett shakes hands with Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Thane after receiving her diploma.
Valedictorian Stevi Meade laughs during her commencement speech. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Serena Loney hugs her mother Lynette Holzer during the passing out of roses.
Elijah King, Bo Jungers, Quinton Johnson and Jessie Hood listen to the keynote speaker during Sunday's graduation ceremony.
The class of 2017 processes into the gym.
Seeley Lake Lion Steve Bowen presents awards to Gavin Mercado and Stevi Meade at the SSHS senior night.
Shawn Holmes presents McKinley Nicholas with an award at the Seeley-Swan High senior night.
SEELEY LAKE - Friends and family members cheered on the Seeley-Swan High School seniors as they crossed the stage during commencement Sunday, June 4.
Twenty-one seniors-clad in the traditional black caps and gowns- received diplomas, ending their high school careers on a weekend when 814 other Missoula County Public Schools seniors graduated.
The students chose Seeley Lake Elementary teacher Duane Schlabach to give the commencement speech. Schlabach said his personal quest for knowledge led him to the stage, since he had grown up Amish and did not have the privilege of graduating high school. Schlabach emphasized three attributes to help succeed in life-ambition, empathy and humility.
"You begin your own journey down this trail of life," said Schlabach. "Ambition will allow you to leave the trailhead and engage in this breathtaking trip."
Schlabach continued with the outdoors analogies, reminding seniors to have a plan of where they want to go and carry a good map, to stay flexible in case they come across beautiful country that needs to be explored and to always stick a toothbrush and some toothpaste in their backpacks-to stay classy.
"Remember, ambition will get you to the peak, empathy makes you human and connects you to something larger than yourselves, and humility earns you meaningful success," said Schlabach.
He ended his speech by reminding students that over the course of their journeys, they will stumble and fall.
"You will encounter dust, mud, and yes, the occasional horse turd," Schlabach said. "Your trail will constantly turn and bend but stay on your own course because it's the right one. It's the one you choose."
Salutatorian Alex Bohlman gave a farewell speech to her fellow classmates. In it, she named every teacher at the school, thanking them for their influence and knowledge. She then summed up the celebration by quoting Alan Alda. "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition," she said. "What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself."
Looking at her classmates one last time as a high schooler, Bohlman added, "And so the adventure begins."
Senior Scholarships and Honors
Alexandra Bohlman
National Honor Society
Lauren Bemrose
Loving Hearts Scholarship
Cora Grube
Missoula County Exchange Club's Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Award
Quinton J. Johnson
Howard MacIntosh Memorial Scholarship
Gavin T. Lechowski Mercado
Heisman Student Athlete Award
Seeley Lake Lions Merit Award
John A. Bell Family Scholarship
Loving Hearts Scholarship
MCPS Most Inspiring Student Award
Missoula Electric Cooperative Scholarship
Montana State University Health Enhancement Grant
Montana State University Premier Scholarship
Cliff Nelson Scholarship
Shane Lindemer
Anonymous Scholarship
Rocky Mountain College Merit Scholarship
National Honor Society
Stevi Meade
Flathead Community College Tuition Fee Waiver
Lewis and Clark State College Presidential Scholarship
Montana State University-Billings Scholarship
Northern Arizona University Gold Scholarship
Seeley Lake Lions Club Merit Award
National Honor Society
Bradley Miller
Rocky Mountain College Merit Scholarship
McKinley Nicholas
Loving Hearts Scholarship
Utah State Academic Scholarship
Abram Pocha
Missoula Electric Cooperative Scholarship
Ovando Blackfoot Community Church Scholarship
Cera Strumpfer
Rocky Mountain College Merit Scholarship
National Honor Society
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