Graduates glean wisdom from elders during Lincoln County High School commencement

Lincoln County High School graduation guest speaker Jim Mepham caused quite a stir during his speech at commencement exercises Saturday.

He told the graduating class, “You are sitting in front of hundreds of years of wisdom. In the crowd are parents, teachers and respected adults who can help teach you the wisdom you need to make the right decisions and choices in life. Go find one of them, thank them for helping you get to this point in your life and get one piece of wisdom from them that will help you gain the wisdom to make life-changing choices. Then come back.”

By Larry Cheek
Of the Tobacco Valley News

With that remark, most of the graduates went into the audience to find that special person, and, yes, they all came back.

“You look wiser already,” Mepham said on their return.

Mepham is the first-year School District 13 superintendent. He said because he is new, he could not reminisce about the good old days.

“I don’t even know all the seniors’ names,” he said. “Traditionally, I’ve had the chance to speak with seniors at the start of their senior year. I missed the opportunity this year, but I think a similar speech works at the end of the year. For my past 20-plus years, seniors at the beginning of the year always said that the one thing that they want is a better reputation than last year’s senior class. This class is different because they have earned a better reputation than any past senior class I’ve worked with. This class set a record for lack of discipline referrals”.

He concluded his speech by saying, “If anyone remembers anything from this speech, here are my words of wisdom: Success in life will be greater when you learn to have fun without drugs and alcohol. I can’t wait for this year’s seniors to come back and say: ‘You were right.’”

The school graduated a relatively small class of 63 students, which was one of the smallest classes in recent memory. Though small in numbers, the class had its high achievers. Three graduating students finished their four years of high school with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. KaeDee Shay, Robert Hark and Hazy Blanck shared the title of valedictorian, and all three addressed the class and audience.

“We all have the potential to be great,” Shay said. “No matter what you accomplish, be proud of yourself.”

Hark used a logging analogy in his speech. “Students will have difficulty succeeding without a good education, just like trying to start a chainsaw without any gas.”

Blanck gave the class a laundry list of advice that included: “Wear sunscreen; enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; don’t worry about the future; do one thing every day that scares you; sing; remember the compliments you receive and forget the insults; be careful with the advice you receive but be patient with those who give it to you,” were just a few of her words of wisdom.

Top-10 student Melanie Finch was the top recipient of scholarships. She introduced Jack Smiley, who presented the Doc Smiley scholarship that is given in memory of his father. Smiley then awarded the scholarship to Finch. The annual scholarship is for $4,000 a year for four years. Among Finch’s other awards was a $3,000 InterBel scholarship, a Governor’s Merit Scholarship of $2,000 a year renewable each year up to four years, and a Haynes Scholarship for $2,000. Finch also received several local scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000.

In awarding the scholarships, high school counselor Sheila Bartmess said that the scholarships may be awarded differently next year. “Next year, we as a school, have in the plans to have an awards night prior to graduation.”

As they were lining up for the processional before the graduation ceremonies, some of the seniors were asked how they felt about graduating. Lyndsey Price, who wants to be a CPA and plans to study accounting at FVCC and then Montana State, said: “It’s exciting and a big relief to be done with 12 years of school, but I’m anxious about starting a new life.”
Steven Houchin said: “I’m pretty excited right now. I wasn’t sure this day would ever come.”

Cory Greenwood said: “It’s all small in the big picture. I was pretty excited about it three days ago, but now I just want to get it over with.” Greenwood will serve in the National Guard immediately following graduation. He said he will probably be in Iraq within a year.

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