JOHN DAY — Fond memories, pride and excitement for the future filled the hearts of those gathered in the Grant Union High School gym for the 2024 senior graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 8.

The Grant School District bestowed honors and diplomas on 41 graduating seniors at the ceremony as teachers, faculty, friends and family looked on. Among the top honors were for 2024 class valedictorian Alex Finley and salutatorian Aliciana Archibald.

Finley provided a speech that drew applause and laughter from the crowd based on his love of the movie “Shrek,” using characters and events in the film as metaphors for Grant Union High School life and memorable events.

Just like the heroes of the movie, Shrek and Donkey, Finley said members of the Class of 2024 were able to achieve great success when they worked together. He referenced an amazing and spooky hallway during a past year’s Spirit Week, as well as the softball team winning two state championships.

“Now that we’ve seen all we can achieve in high school, think of all the things you want to achieve, all the dreams you want,” Finley said. “Go be like Shrek and persevere through countless challenges to rescue his Princess Fiona. Then find your happiness and push forward towards your goals, no matter what, because your ‘happily ever after’ might be just around the corner.”

Finley said the Class of 2024 didn’t have a fairy godmother like Princess Fiona, but they did have a lot of support.

“I’m talking about all the teachers, coaches and family that pushed us to be the better version of ourselves,” he said in his valedictory speech. “They gave up their time to better us as athletes, students and people. They are the ones we need to thank today, and they pushed us to get here.”

The ceremony also included a senior memories slideshow music video produced by the Grant Union media students that included pictures of the graduates as toddlers and children, as well as photos of the students in the current day.

Principal Jay Hummel, who came on board last October, presented the Class of 2024 and instructed the graduates to turn their cap tassels as the school band played “Auld Lang Syne.”

“Although I’ve only worked with this class for a short time, I appreciate their spirit and how they help and support each other,” Hummel said.

Grant School District Superintendent Mark Witty said he hopes the graduates move back to Grant County in the future, but if not, “we just wish them the very best wherever they choose to live and raise a family.”

“It’s a great group of kids,” Witty said. “They are very energetic in many ways, whether it was in leadership roles or academics. They just excelled. They definitely left a mark on our school system, I think, for everybody that’s had an opportunity to teach them (from kindergarten to senior year). It’s just a really good class of kids.”