PHOTOS BY MEGAN KANE
As the Hermiston High School Class of 2016 closed the door on their high school careers, they were urged to open as many more doors as they can while embarking on their life’s path.
Keynote speaker Alan Keown, a 1975 HHS grad and this year’s HHS Distinguished Alumnus, said when he roamed the halls of Hermiston High 40 years ago, he had a pretty good idea of the path he was about to embark on.
Keown embarked on a life in music, working as a percussion teacher and arranger throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1989 he founded the Alan Keown Marching Percussion Camp, held in Eugene, and he has instructed at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and various high school programs, along with Ted Turner’s Goodwill Games Ceremonies and the competitive tour sponsored by Drum Corps International.
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On Saturday, he told the Class of 2016 to imagine their life as a long corridor with a big exit sign at the far end. On either side are doors that could represent opportunity, risk, happiness and success. The exit at the end is – well, the end of life. What happens to their lives depends upon the doors they choose to open in life.
“The longer you wait to step through the doors, the greater the chance they will pass you by,” Keown said. “You don’t have an eternity to experience all the things you want.
“Open as many doors as possible before you get to the exit.”
Graduating senior Hannah Reese urged her fellow graduates to feel proud of all their accomplishments.
“Follow your heart and your desires and you will accomplish nothing but success,” she said.
“Graduates – congratulations,” she told them. “Now go make us all proud.”
Madilyn Hofbauer provided the class prophecy, predicting that Donald Trump would win the presidency and that his campaign slogan will inspire her and others to re-assure their parents when their college grades don’t measure up to expectations.
“Mom, Dad, with your financial support, I will make my grades great again,” she said.
Sofia Gispert Tello gave the class farewell address and highlighted the many successes of the 2016 graduates, citing state championships and awards in sports, music, clubs and other activities.
HHS Principal Tom Spoo said HHS graduates earned more than $4 million in scholarships.
“Collectively, the Class of 2016 is one of the finest in Hermiston High School history,” he said.
