Dayton High School graduates prepare to turn their tassels after receiving their diplomas Thursday.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Dayton High School’s graduating Dust Devils received a little more than a gentle breeze to accompany their final exit on the football field Thursday.
Salutatorian Macen Harker, in his commencement address, reacted impeccably to the stronger wind when it picked up while reflecting on a recent visit to Catalina Island. He equated people’s trials and challenges to the mountains on an island.
“These mountains may seem impossible to overcome, whether they’re built on family trials, work situations, school stresses or even trials in your own mind,” he said. “These mountains can feel incredibly daunting, but I can tell each and everyone of you that – this wind sucks – if you keep taking a step forward one after another and don’t stop until you crest that mountain and take the most gorgeous view you’ve seen in your life, then you can just coast down the hill.”
Dayton High School held its graduation on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Photos by Jessica Garcia of the Nevada Appeal.
Harker, will be serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this fall and is scheduled to serve in Madagascar. When he returns, he said he will attend school in Utah to get his degree in mechanical engineering. He hopes to work on Formula One cars in the future.
He said he enjoyed attending Dayton.
“It was a great school, and I like all the staff,” he told the Appeal.
Valedictorian Whitney Winward prompted classmates to add value to their world wherever they’re headed.
“Whatever path you take, wherever your life takes you, whether it be the military, college, a trade school, Hollywood, your mom’s basement, just try to make it a better place for yourself and others,” she said. “In a world full of pigeons, be a flamingo.”
Winward told the Appeal she took dual enrollment, attending classes at Western Nevada College and online classes for her first semester of her senior year. She also studied abroad in Germany. With an uncle in the Air Force, they traveled around Europe and participated in rock climbing and used protected routes on cliffs, which she said she enjoyed.
“I definitely learned a lot of culture,” she said.
She will be attending Utah State University in the fall to study recreation administration with plans to earn a dual bachelor’s degree and study aviation. She has an interest in working with youth and starting her own program and one day working in third-world countries, she said. She also has plans to serve a church mission.
Dayton graduated about 145 seniors in the Class of 2024, according to Principal Julie Bumgardner.