BEATRICE – Graduating during a full year of a pandemic won’t be remembered as easy, but the Class of Beatrice High School of 2021 accomplished that.
BHS Senior Addyson Timmerman was one of the class speakers at a commencement ceremony held inside the Hevelone Center for Fine Arts at BHS, Sunday.

"When I look back, all I can be is thankful. There are kids as close as Lincoln that didn't get half of the opportunities that we did. I personally was surrounded by a great group of people who also decided we were going to make the most out of our senior year, no matter what. That, we definitely did. Our class was definitely resilient. We went through ups and downs of all kinds. We went from championships to great losses....on and off the field, court and even the mat. We were there for one another. We were more than a senior class. Kids came together and loved on each other at a time where love seems so hard. That's what makes our class so special, in my eyes."

Planned for the House of Orange football field, the event had to be moved indoors with a spillover audience watching the ceremony in the O-Zone gymnasium.
Senior Colt Dittbrenner said the unknowns the graduating class faced this year “terrified us…whether we admitted it, or not”…..and he said there are a lot of people to thank.

"I would like to thank not only our spectacular teachers and administrators in our public schools...but also the amazing cafeteria workers, bus drivers and custodians. Your work, whether it is seen, or not....is very much appreciated and has made these four years go as smooth as possible. Secondly, I would like to thank the school board....even in the midst of a pandemic, they had our best interests at heart when voting and making crucial decisions, this year."

There were seven senior class valedictorians this year…..Bennett Crandall, Reganne Henning, Cole Miller, Roel Navarrete, Jace Pethoud, Avery Plessel and Devin Smith. The class overall earned what’s believed to be a record $2.4 million in scholarship support.

High School Instructor and Head Boys Basketball Coach Clark Ribble provided a teacher perspective. His team won a Class-B state basketball title against some tough odds.

"Fourth quarter.....down three points...25 seconds left and we don't have the ball. That's not good. That's not a good situation to be in. But, we relied on each other...and we found a way to win the game. You can find excuses, or you can find a way. It's your choice. You, just like our team, decided to find a way through adversity. You never gave up, and now you are high school graduates. As you write the next chapter of your life, you will face failures. Remember this...making progress is a matter of small failures. Failures are required for growth. Don't get discouraged....keep moving forward....and never give up." Ribble urged students to live for today, do what makes you happy, every once and a while do something that scares you….choose your own path….and tell those closest to you how you truly feel about them.

High School Principal Jason Sutter said the senior class graduates have already earned 1,315 hours of college credit…through a dual-credit program offered at the high school. Sutter told the class in this modern era of social media, they’ll have more fans and critics, than ever. He told them, “don’t let the praise go to your head….and don’t let the critics get into your head.” Sutter added, "at the end of each day instead of thinking of all of the things that were negative and went wrong, write down or think about a couple things that happened to you that day that made you feel great. Look for the good and focus on it and you will start seeing more of it. Don't let the opinions of others define you."

Sutter encouraged the class to reflect on what they accomplished and to celebrate the moment. The students received their diplomas Sunday from District 15 Board President Jon Zimmerman and Superintendent Jason Alexander.