Kalin Hicswa

Good afternoon, community members, parents, friends, family and the stars of today’s show — Powell High School Class of 2023. 

Guys, we made it. Through all the highs and lows, we have finished something we have been working towards for over 13 years. We are poised to take this diploma and go into the future and do great things. 

To get to where we are today we have been influenced by a myriad of people that have helped us to get to this point. So, to the administrators, teachers, mentors, family members, friends and everyone in between, I want to express a heartfelt thank you. 

Thank you for helping us through rough patches, thank you for teaching us to embrace our passions, thank you for being unequivocally you and influencing our lives. To my own family, thank you for encouraging me to press forward and instilling within me an unrelenting spirit for compassion and pushing for change.  

Over the past couple weeks as I have been reflecting on these past 13 years, or four thousand six hundred fifty four days, we have been in school, the things that stand out are not the test grades or time spent on assignments that got us to where we are today, but all the little moments in between. Each and every one of us have had different experiences that have formed our years in school. We have also had many experiences that unite us: watching Ryan break his ankle jumping in the mud pit at homecoming Olympics, our class setting 16 school records, setting a speed run records … for the WYTOPP, getting several fire truck escorts after state events, Jacob throwing up during a math test and the test continuing, no matter the smell, and being a part of the student section at home games.

These memories are a part of who we are, but they are just that, memories, we can always call back on to bring us home, no matter how far away from beautiful, windy, Powell, Wyoming we find ourselves. 

Senior year is full of lasts, last homecoming, last prom, last high school final, last time eye rolling at Mr. Fulton’s corny jokes, and the last time walking in these halls. Each of these lasts paves the way for a series of firsts, no matter where we go. Powell High School Class of 2023, please let these firsts set our place in history and as author and poet, Marshall Bruce Mathers III said, “If you had one shot, or one opportunity; To seize everything you ever wanted; One moment would you capture it or just let it slip, yo?” 

While these firsts, opportunities we will capture, will propel us as we go into the world, we’re gathered here today to celebrate the end of a chapter. Culminating years of work, by receiving the piece of paper we’ve been working towards since we were 5 years old and our biggest worry was getting our moms to let us stay up past 8:30. 

Now, we are heading into a new chapter, adulthood, a time that for many of us couldn’t come soon enough. However, with the end of this chapter comes uncertainty for the future, and there is nothing set in stone each day; with the primary exception of who you choose to be and the attitude you bring into each day. Making the choice of who you will become is a lot simpler than what you will be. I hope each of you can be someone who is making a difference, no matter what you are doing. Class of 2023, I encourage you to be bold, I encourage you to be compassionate, I encourage you to not be satisfied with the status quo and always advocate for what you believe.

Congratulations Class of 2023 and go Panthers!