Throughout her high school career, she understood that Oasis Academy was not the biggest school. And she was OK with that.
Instead of getting lost in the halls and forgetting who she met throughout the years, Sadie O’Flaherty, this year’s valedictorian, reminded her graduating class that the experience at the small college prep school emphasized quality over quantity.
O’Flaherty, who will attend the University of Oregon in the fall, told her class of 42 the importance of sharing her high school experience with everyone of her classmates.
“I get to experience something that most high schoolers don’t,” she said about never feeling lost in the halls. “I get to look into the crowd of graduates sitting before and say with confidence that I know each and everyone one of you. I’ve shared classes with you. Laughs with you. Even school trips to Disneyland, Vegas or Costa Rica with some of you. And as I look back on the last four years that I’ve spent with you all, I am reminded of one of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned. Quality over quantity.”
O’Flaherty and the rest of her senior class waved goodbye to a year that no one will forget during Oasis Academy’s graduation ceremony on Thursday on the Western Nevada College campus. Earlier in the day, most also received their diploma from WNC after competing their two-year degree.
It started their junior year when Oasis Academy went to full-distance learning after spring break when the pandemic began to rage in the United States. Like the previous senior class, this year’s students lost final milestones, including a full sports seasons, concerts and college trips. Although basketball was lost, Oasis Academy was able to play six-week fall and spring sports seasons.
“The past year has been a tough and emotionally draining time,” said O’Flaherty, who discussed five traits – kindness, loyalty, humor, intelligence and willpower – that make up a quality person. “We as a class were forced to adapt to online learning, and we were sadly separated for most of the year, unable to gather together and do our normal, fun high school activities together.”
The school won its first state championship when the softball team, carried by five seniors, completed its undefeated run. The students were able to have their prom two weeks ago along with a senior sunrise. And on Thursday, they graduated on a warm and sunny early evening in front of their friends and family, walking across the stage to receive their diploma before officially concluding a year to remember.
“Yet, still, we overcame the challenges and persevered,” O’Flaherty added. “We were lucky enough to have people in our class who cared so much about us to organize things. We took what was supposed to be a terrible year and still managed to come out on top. And that, Bighorns, is because we have willpower.”
Madelyn Mikulak introduced the crowd to fellow senior Sequoya Casey, who sung the national anthem, before Donald Schank provided the invocation. After Rochelle Tisdale’s welcome address, Casey welcomed the evening’s keynote speaker came, who back from his new home in the Bay Area to address his former classmates.
William Martin humored the crowd while reminding the students that there’s nothing they cannot conquer in the real world after what they faced in their final year of high school.
Tisdale, Cheryl Venturacci, Andy Lenon and Karla Craig handed out the diplomas as each senior walked across the stage and proceeded to pin his or her next career or education step on a large map of the United States. After Benjamin Polish’s closing remarks to his class and Schank’s benediction, the senior class congregated together to toss their caps high the air as their family and friends celebrated.
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