(Le Mars) — Graduation ceremonies were held Sunday afternoon for both Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community. 36 seniors were given their diplomas from Gehlen Catholic school board president Andy Schmidt at the Gehlen baseball field, while members of the Le Mars Community Board of Education handed
diplomas to 149 seniors at the new Le Mars Community Stadium. Both schools had to hold their commencement ceremonies outside, and with respect to social distancing due to the COVID-19 virus. Aside from having windy conditions, the day was near perfect for the outdoor ceremonies.
Anthony Vera was the Salutatorian for Gehlen Catholic while Josie Kolbeck was the class Valedictorian. Dr. Juan Uribe offered the commencement address for the Gehlen Catholic graduating class of 2020.
Anthony Vera address:
Josie Kolbeck address:
Dr. Juan Uribe address:
Later in the afternoon at the Le Mars Community commencement ceremonies, Chloe Calhoun was recognized as the featured speaker.
Chloe Calhoun address:
Calhoun is among seven of the class Valedictorians including: Kara Albrect, Jakob Francksen-Small, Brooke Haage, Kyle Herbst, Sarah Meis, and Paige Washburn. The Salutatorian
for Le Mars Community was Kady Leusink.
High School Principal, Dr. Mark Iverson, presented the class of 2020 and Scott Kommes, school board president, accepted the class and wished the graduates well for their future endeavors. Interestingly, the chosen motto for the Le Mars Community High School seniors was: “The old rules are crumbling and nobody knows what the new rules are. So make up your own rules.” At the time the senior class chose the quotation by Neil Gaiman,
nobody realized how appropriate it would be given the nation’s circumstances.
At the Le Mars Community Stadium, graduating seniors could only have two members of their family inside, so many other family and friends gathered outside the stadium and watched the ceremonies live from the large television monitor on the school’s giant scoreboard. Many times as a particular senior’s name was called, and that senior walked across the platform stage to receive their diploma, horns could be heard honking from cars parked outside the stadium, as well as hoots and hollers offering their congratulatory cheers.
