Taking place Saturday May 26 at 6 p.m. under clear skies at Oriole Park, Stanley-Boyd graduated 86 seniors in the Class of 2023, the stands filled with proud parents and other attendees.

Starting with a welcome and introduction the ceremony quickly shifted to an address by principal Tanya Mahr, who quoted author Tom Spaulding to tell students that, “we can make a very big impact on others, every day of our lives.”

With the potential to impact 80,000 people over the course of one’s lifetime, Mahr told graduates, “I hope that you embrace the gift of influence,” and to “invest in people, so that the legacy you leave behind will be important.”

With principal Mahr followed in turn by class salutatorian Kennedy Kuehni, the teachers of Stanley-Boyd came in for thanks from the graduating class, with Kuehni telling her classmates that, “you must move forward and become the best version of yourselves.”

Followed in turn by valedictorian Janelle Schesel, parents were given their due as well.

“I would like to thank my parents Jeff and Bonnie for making me who I am,” Schesel said, thanking them for their support.

Relating how the coronavirus pandemic that plagued much of their high school experience had lifted, Schesel told her classmates to say yes to meeting new people and pursuing their dreams. “The truth is, life is so short,” she said.

Followed in turn by district superintendent Jeff Koenig, the graduates on the field and attendees in the stands heard about Stanley-Boyd’s motto and what it means.

“The Stanley-Boyd School District’s mission is to prepare all students to learn at a high level,” Koenig said, then asking, “what does that mean?”

A big part he shared was making sure that students had the employability skills to follow their many and diverse dreams. Included in such skills was getting along with others, being reliable and dependent, and having a willingness to learn new things.

Then mentioning how history had a way of repeating itself, Koenig referred back to 2010 (when the Class of 2023 had entered kindergarten) and some of the various controversies that had arisen. Nonetheless, the

“We including you, have weathered uncertain times before,” Koenig said. “Now it’s time to take those employability skills with you.”

With the presentation of the class following and board members Toni Seidl, Becky Peterson, Chad Verbeten, and Ryan Lewallen assisting in handing out diplomas, the Class of 2023 walked the stage, and off the field, the class motto by Pema Chodron guiding to what may come: “The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment.”