There were blue stoles, yellow sashes, sunflowers and smiles in the PCHS gym on Saturday night. The blue stoles signified membership in the National Honor Society. The yellow sashes symbolized advanced diplomas. And the sunflower is the class flower.
Many of the grads also wore a blue and yellow cord, in recognition of their participation in JAG, a jobs program.
In their speeches, co-valedictorians Kylee Fuller and Devin Moura looked back on their high school years. They also thanked their families and mentors.
The grads gathered on the gym floor to watch the slide show, edited by Tristian Gallagher, a junior. Babies turned into toddlers. Toddlers turned into young adults ready for their next adventure.
The Class of 2022 shook hands with the school board trustees and superintendent. They were the first group to do so in a couple of years.
Last year’s grads fist-bumped their way down the lineup. In 2020, the celebration was virtual because the county was under quarantine.
The senior class invited business and military veteran Jeff Johnson as their guest speaker. Johnson was a 2004 graduate of Pershing County High School. He spoke about the possibility of finding humor even under bleak circumstances. The scene in the gym was far from bleak as Lovelock sent 38 graduates into the world.
