Several hundred family, friends, community members and staff packed into the Riverside High School gymnasium Friday evening, May 12, for the Class of 2023’s commencement service. The thought of addressing so many individuals from the stage made valedictorian Sadie Hughes a bit anxious, she admitted, but here she was, and she was bolstered recently by the kind words of a friend.
“Public speaking is not my favorite thing, my friends and family would tell you. So I’ve been pretty nervous about this. But a few weeks ago, a co-worker encouraged me and told me I should be a motivational speaker.
“Sometimes to overcome our fears, all we need is that one person who believes in us, and we start to believe in ourselves. Not to say I’m not nervous today, but it really does help.
“My message to each of you is: Don’t let the fear win. Then we miss out on so many spectacular things. I challenge you to push past your fears.”
Sadie, who plans to attend The Ohio State University to study interior design, also encouraged her fellow graduates by quoting II Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”
As the Class of 2023 moves on to seek various paths, from post-secondary education to employment or enlisting in the military and starting families of their own, Sadie urged them that as they face difficulties, to also know their own limits and when they might need to take a step back and take a break.
Salutatorian Alaina Snow, who plans to attend Belmont University to study business management, said while she might have felt “absolutely ready to graduate” the last several years, this moment in time seemed bittersweet and happened so quickly.
“It feels not that long ago that I was that little fourth-grader with my sparkly star shirt and backpack from Justice,” she said with a chuckle.
She extended her heartfelt gratitude to her teachers and coaches, who helped to mold and shape the graduates; her parents for giving her “every resource possible”; and her friends for their love, whit and humor. Alaina also encouraged her classmates to spread kindness to others wherever they go, and to avoid being a branch on the tree of gossip.
Also rounding out the top 10 graduates for the Class of 2023 are: Rachel Knight, Skylar Barhorst, Hayden Gammell, Siera Barhorst, Briana Bradley, Samuel Knight, Andrew Knight and Jade Copas.
Class President Samuel Knight had the honor of reading his classmates’ names during the presentation of diplomas.
The Riverside High School Class of 2023 includes the following graduates: Hannah Lee Anderson, Daisy Lynn Armbruster, Molly Kristine Bailey, Siera Kalene Barhorst, Skylar Leigh Barhorst, Neveah Kaydence Bowman, Briana Lee Bradley, Braden Jonathan Brandyberry, Dawltin Gene Brandyberry, Leah Anne Burden, Gage Jacob Cooper, Jade Renae Copas, Addison Zander Crouch, AuBree Rose Davis, Jayden Rose Ferryman, Hayden James Allen Gammell, Simon Hawk Godwin, Tiberius Tomias Gonzalez, Dallas Christopher Hoffer, Cayden Michael Holycross, Skyler Laine Hudson, Sadie Brynne Hughes, Drew Joseph Hunkler, David Michael Jarrett, Drew Braylon Jones, Andrew Reese Knight, Rachel Ann Knight, Samuel Walker Knight, Tyler James Knight, Audrey Lynn Kopus, Ethan Zane Lattimer, Nataleighann Akasha Lewellen, Isaiah Michael Lloyd, Gerit Anthony Marshall, Madison Ellen Mescher, Quenten William Newman, Caitlin Joann Osborne, Daria Penkova, Riley Dawn Potter, Lane Nathaniel Price, Kathlyn Marie Richards, Draven Matthew Robinson, Aaron Michael Scheeler, Kaleb Nelson Schindewolf, Warren Lee Shockey, Kylie Jean Shoe, Kaleb Ethan Slusher, Dylan Gage Smith, Alaina Nichole Snow, Brooke Catherine Stevens, Hailey Catherine Stevens, Harley-Ann Marie Stevens, Ayva Jean Stewart, Shane Lansing Strickland, Walker Matthew Whitaker.