Pierce County High School’s Class of 2013 was encouraged to keep learning and continue reaching for greater heights during Friday’s commencement at Bear Stadium.
The group of 213 graduates, including 79 with honors, leave behind a story of successes in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. At the pinnacle of their high school careers, however, valedictorian Mark Karle and salutatorian Natasha Markowich challenged classmates to seek excellence beyond PCHS.
Karle, in a speech woven with humor and advice, described the class as an “interesting generation” on the front of exploration not of new lands, but in the age of the Internet, where there’s a wealth of information to discover if one is curious enough to seek it.
“Don’t be ashamed to not know something,” Karle said. “and don’t be ashamed of your curiosity because asking questions and recognizing your ignorance is the first step to learning.”
Karle referenced recent comments by Google co-founder Larry Page about learning, living and loving being the three things that matter. Living is made easier through learning and worth it through loving, the top honor graduate remarked.
Karle thanked his family and the support of administrators and faculty throughout the school system for helping students make it to graduation. From then on, he asked fellow students to keep their minds open.
“Never stop thinking, never stop imagining,” Karle said. “The day that you do is the day that you die.”
Markowich acknowledged the evening was a big moment in itself, but perhaps not in a lifetime. She called it a stepping stone for moving to bigger things.
The salutatorian mentioned the metaphor of high school graduation as the peak of a mountain, then pushed for the group to view it more as a hill and not the ultimate goal.
“Don’t let these be the best years of your life.”
The ceremony opened with students entering to “Pomp and Circ*mstance” with Karle, a senior class officer, welcoming the crowd and introducing the class.
Fellow class officer Shelby House gave the inspiration. She referenced poet Walt Whitman’s “Pioneers! O Pioneers!” in her remarks, pointing out while the class is not settling America, they are braving a new world.
“We worked hard, but really the work is just beginning.
“There isn’t a limit to what we can do with the right amount of work.”
Class officer Haden Williams led the Pledge to the Flag and another class officer, Kellyn Manders, provided a special recognition to school staff, administrators and seniors.
The seniors performed the class song, “I’m Not Gonna Cry” and a senior ensemble performed “You’re Gonna Miss This,” dedicated to parents of the graduating class. The ensemble included Karle, House, Amelia Beaudry, Caitlyn Buchanan, Micah Mills, Lindsey Halstead and Hailey Wallace.
Senior class advisors, Robbie Spires and John DuPont, presented the Class of 2013. Superintendent Terri DeLoach and Principal Dara Bennett bestowed diplomas to the graduates.
Class officer Hannah Walker gave the benediction. Moments later, the seniors assembled in the middle of the field and closed out the event with a cap toss.
Class of 2013
Honor Graduates
Mark Andrew Karle, Natasha Teresa Markowich, Dillon Todd Veal, Jamie Faith Thomas, Lindsey Rebecca Halstead, Jessica Shelby House, Kellyn Anita Manders, Micah Daniel Mills, Breanna Renee Popham, Olivia Allison Fowler, Hailey Elizabeth Wallace, Ivey Brooke Pruitt, Haden Kenlee Williams, Caitlyn Deanna Buchanan, Jackie Leigh Jernigan, Mary Stewart Weir, Steven Daniel Stipe Jr., Clefira Santana, Taryn Nicole Spires, Frances Emily Danielle Harris, Amelia Rachel T. Beaudry, Cassie Elizabeth Parker, Carol Ann Marie Gill, Caitlyn Jan Kimmons, Joseph Harrison Hart, Tyler Lee Paul, Jasmine Marie Battles, Jamison McKenzie Brown, Hannah Elizabeth Walker, Carter Harrison Turner, Erin Taylor Rozier, Jose Ignacio Morrugares Rojas, Xinying Lin, Kendra Jean Molinaroli, Alex Spencer Tiner, Ian Michael Waters, Samuel Gaskin Stewart Jr., Caitlyn Jade Harris, Colby Hunter Sullivan, Diana Santos Menjivar, Mason Kirkland James, Abigail Julia Parker, Reina Luisa Ramirez, Cullen Augustus Williams, Sa’sha Tierra LaQua Moody, Hannah Eleanor Murray, Megan Miranda Dowling, Breanna Faith Cooper, Lorena Torres, Courtney Allison Howard, Shawn Edward Clark, Christian Thomas Hyers, Anthony Nathan Moore, Hunter Wade Skipper, Megan Olivia Grant, Emily Michelle Moore, Christian Nicole Perritt, Brian Andrew Landrum, Sydney Lanier Strickland, Denice Alexandra Henderson, John Cole Jacobs, Erica Danielle Tremonte, Joshua Michael Alvarez, Alyssa Bailey Crawford, LeeAnn Alyssa Johnson, Jessica Renee Lovell, Alexis Nicole Cowan, Lauren Michelle Logsdon, Tyeisha Antonette Truitt, Rebecca Elizabeth Sauls, Laney Machelle Bowen, William Avery Rozier Jr., Dallas Danielle Hall, Robert Eustace Johnson, Michaela Elizabeth Loback, Alexcia Tierra’ Broady, Katherine Anne Sweat, Samantha Audis Spivey and Amanda Elizabeth Thigpen.
Class of 2013
Candidates for Graduation
Brian Austin Adams, Kaleb Alexander Altman, James Sullivan Amos, Rah’Keem Anthony Armstrong, Tori Mikale Atkins, Andrew Timothy Bagley, Diamond Marie Beans, Shana Michelle Bell, Archie Walker Blythe, Alfred Austin Boatright, Dalton Paul Boatwright, Tiffany Amber Bowers, Matthew Elijah Bowie, Zachury William Bradley, Yasmin Keyuanna Samone Broady, Erica Michelle Buchanan, Blake Edward Burney, Jamie Dustyn Burney, Miriah Keleigh Cady, Harley Seth Carter, Harry Osbin Carter, Hunter Mark Carter, Mason Nathanial Carter, Matthew Sanford Carter, Rebecca Leann Clark, Bobbie Taylor Clodgoe, Staci Tevis Cochran, Elizabeth Ashton Colley, Chelsea Star Conners, Brittany Nicole Cooper, Hannah Victoria Cornelius, Brittani Nicole Cox, James Ryan Crawford, Cameron Leigh Crawford-Norman, Dalton Lee Creach, Jonathan Nathaniel Crews, Brett Christian Cunningham, Tiffany Amanda Dampier, Corrie Lynn Davis, Karlie Nicole Davis, John Edward Davis Jr., Logan Elizabeth Day, Caleb Hunter Deal, Derica Hayden Dean, Noah Joel Dell, Zachary William Deloach, Manuel Alejandro Diaz, Bowen Christopher Dixon, Douglas Cole Dowling, Tulsa Michelle Durrance, Vincent Correll Elliott, Kaitlin Alexis Fiveash, Danielle Leeshea Fullmore, Kaitlin Christina Gardner, Matthew Tyler Garland, Hampton Walker Goble, Deshaves Rashad Hagan, Christopher Jordan Handley, John Frank Harris, William Alii Hender, Kimberly Nicole Henderson, Alex Dwayne Hernandez, Shatoria Jamese Hill, Ancil Cole Holland, Christina Amy Howard, Dylan Joseph Howard, Malia Ocean Howell, James Caleb Jacobs, Angela Cierra Johnson, James Dylan Johnson, Nashara Akebalon Johnson, Michael Dalton Jones, Rogdricis Antonia Kennedy, Joseph Skylar Kinder, John Zachary Knox, Davis Lamar Lairsey, Nathan Emory Lee, Jacob Aaron Lowman, Taylor Ashlen McQuaig, Julia Nicole Mobley, Kayla LeAnn Moody, Taylor Daniel Moore, Wesley Logen O’Steen, Melody Michelle Owens, Morli Harshad Patel, Brittany Renee Peaco*ck, Casey Lynn Peaco*ck, Corey Joseph Proctor, Kayli Amber Quirk, Matthew Richard Reyes, Robert Wayne Reynolds, Rayn Racquel Rhem, Richada DE’Shelle Richardson, Tatyana Patricia Rodriguez, Jose Armando Rosas, Haley Beth Roundtree, Megan Breanne Ruger, Chance Thomas Sackett, Shelby Nichol Sanders, Perla Santana, Curtis Ryan Sauls, Jessica Ashley Sauls, Tyler Lee Scales, Sandra Renee Self, Michael Lee Serfass, Benjamin Cody Simmons, Erica Christina Simmons, Keri Autumn Sinclair, Colby Shane Smith, Justin Douglas Smith, Kyle Evan Smith, Tania Solorio, Christopher Dillian Spradley, Joseph Albert Spradley, Justin Tyler Sweat, Keaph Jaycub Tessmer, Chelsea Geniva Thompson, James Lawton Thornton, Cody Flemon Thrift, Jessica Breanne Thrift, Tyler Warren Tippins, James Michael Todd, Sara Skye Tsaklis, Tiffany Lynn Tyre, Yunia Ninet Villatoro, Raychelle Talisha Ward, Marcus Sheldon Washington, Cole Thomas West, Dallas Aubrey Westberry, Walker Daniel White, Morgan Whitney Williams, John Lamont Wilson, Amanda Nicole Wiseman and Britany Lee Zink.
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