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MOVING ON TO THE FUTURE – La Conner’s graduating seniors have a new tradition: a car parade. Last Thursday Hannah Grossglass, left, and Hannah Cook were in the motocade from the school campus through downtown. Later that afternoon the Swinomish graduates got a second parade on their reservation. See photo page 4. – Photo by Marissa Conklin
La Conner High School has held annual commencements for more than a century but the 5 p.m. June 10 graduation at Whittaker Field will offer something new.
Those attending will be officially welcomed in four languages, Lushootseed, English, Spanish and American Sign Language.
“We’re excited about that,” La Conner Middle and High School Counselor Lori Buher told the Weekly News.
In another all-time first, the Class of 2022 boasts co-valedictorians and co-salutatorians.
Charity Dakota Jordan, who represented the district multiple times at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and Delaney Cobbs, who has served as a student school board representative and is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Wrestler of the Year, share top academic honors for the graduating class.
Both intend to enroll at Washington State University in the fall Buher said.
Tying for second place academically in the class are Juna Swanson, who will play basketball at Pacific University and Rachel Cram, bound for Whitworth University as a volleyball signee.
Buher said this year’s seniors have distinguished themselves in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and in service to the community.
“Six of this year’s seniors have earned their associate degrees through the Running Start program and over half the class has maintained a grade point average of 3.0 or better in spite of COVID-19,” Buher said.
Commencement seating for adults will be on the football field and there will be no restrictions in the number of attendees. The Swinomish Canoe Family is scheduled to perform.
Buher said graduation celebrations began last week with senior car parades in La Conner and at Swinomish, the traditional tribal Cedar Hat and Eagle Feather Ceremony at Swadabs Park and a class trip last weekend to an Idaho theme park.
The car parades date to 2020 at the onset of the virus crisis.
“They were so well received that it was decided to keep them,” Buher said.
The June 2 parade featured the vintage 1941 La Conner fire truck, rigs from La Conner Hook & Ladder, pickups, flatbeds, sedans, motorcycles and a tractor.
“This class,” Buher said, “is ready to move on to new adventures.”
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