Forty-six seniors were declared graduates of Hills?boro High School during the 109th annual commencement on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Robert C. Brown Gymnasium.
An outdoor commencement had been planned at Joel Wiens Stadium, but school officials decided Thursday to switch the location to indoors because of weather predictions.
Seven valedictorians?Phillip Ediger, Jakob Han?schu, Claire Heyen, Emily Jost, Karyn Leihy, Juliana Sinclair and Allison Weber?addressed the audience briefly, with each incorporating words of wisdom from the world of popular entertainment, ranging from Forrest Gump to Walt Disney to Winnie the Pooh.
The audience also heard from two salutatorians, Darcy Heinrichs and Shan?non Martens.
Steve Noble, USD 410 superintendent, and Delores Dalke, Hillsboro mayor, affirmed students for their achievements and challenged them to make a positive difference with their education.
Participating in his final commencement as principal, Max Heinrichs presented the Class of 2015 to the audience and conferred honors.
Emily Sechrist delivered the invocation and Micah Allen the benediction. Spirit-N-Celebration and the high school band provided music.
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SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
Following are the scholarships and awards presented to the Hillsboro High School Class of 2015.
? Valedictorians: Philip Ediger, Jakob Hanschu, Claire Heyen, Emily Jost, Karyn Leihy, Juliana Sinclair, Allison Weber.
? Salutatorian: Darcy Heinrichs, Shannon Martens.
? The President?s Award for Educational Excellence: Philip Ediger, Jakob Hanschu, Claire Heyen, Emily Jost, Karyn Leihy, Juliana Sinclair, Allison Weber, Hannah Bartel, Darcy Heinrichs, Jesse Meier, Graham Pankratz, Tara Proffitt, Allison Hill, Joshua Funk, Valerie Klassen.
? Kansas State Scholars: Philip Ediger, Joshua Funk, Jakob Hanschu, Darcy Heinrichs, Claire Heyen, Emily Jost, Graham Pankratz, Allison Weber Shannon Martens.
? Kansas Board of Regents Scholars: Philip Ediger, Joshua Funk, Jakob Hanschu, Darcy Heinrichs, Claire Heyen, Emily Jost, Graham Pankratz, Allison Weber, Shannon Martens, Karyn Leihy, Bradli Nowak, Juliana Sinclair.
? Kansas ACT Scholars: Philip Ediger, Jakob Hanschu, Claire Heyen, Hannah Bartel, Jesse Meier.
? C.M. Sextro Academic Scholarship for Mathematics ($1,250): Jakob Hanschu.
? Outstanding Math & Science Award: Jakob Hanschu.
? USD 410 Hillsboro Education Association Scholarship ($300 ): Grant Knoll.
? Alpha Omega Incentive Award: Allison Weber.
? American Legion Post 366 Scholarship ($500 each): Karyn Leihy, Justus Hilliard, Juliana Sinclair, Jakob Hanschu, Allison Weber.
? Dale Dennis Excellence in Education Award ($200): Karyn Leihy.
? Marion County Farm Bureau ($500): Hannah Bartel, Valerie Klassen.
? 2015 Built Ford Tough-FFA Scholarship ($1,000): Jesse Meier
? Agriculture Future of America ($3,200): Jesse Meier.
? Earl Wineinger Memorial Scholarship: Valerie Klassen.
? Paul Rundstrom Memorial Scholarship ($500): Philip Ediger.
? Hillsboro FFA Alumni Chapter ($300 each): Valerie Klassen.
? Hillsboro Lions Club Scholarship ($500 each): Allison Weber and Daniele Melton.
? LEOs Community Service Scholarship: Daniele Melton ($400), Riley Loewen ($300), Emily Sechrist ($300).
? The American Red Cross ?Young Minds Change Lives? Scholarship ($250): Lisa Geis.
? Marion County 4-H Endowment Fund Ruth Ann Carlson Scholarship: Lisa Geis.
? Kurt Bowman Memorial Scholarship ($400): Jesse Meier
? The Jerry L. Dalke Memorial Youth Award for HHS: Justus Hilliard.
? The Hillsboro Commun?ity Medical Center Scholarship ($500): Shelley Arnold.
? Kansas State High School Activities Association Awards ($250 each): Jakob Hanschu and Jesse Meier.
? Wiebe Good Citizen Scholarship ($2,500 each): Emily Sechrist and Allison Weber.
? High honors: Philip Ediger, Jakob Hanschu, Claire Heyen, Emily Jost, Karyn Leihy, Juliana Sinclair, Allison Weber, David Dick, Darcy Heinrichs, Shannon Martens, Hannah Bartel, Jesse Meier, Emily Sechrist, Graham Pankratz, Tara Proffitt, Allison Hill, Joshua Funk, Micah Allen, Valerie Klassen, Madison Klein, Justus Hilliard, Riley Loewen, Daniele Melton, Jordyn Siebert.
? Honors: Lakyn Johnson, Kennedy Lucero, Shelley Arnold, Bradli Nowak, Jon Carey, Grant Knoll, Lisa Geis.
