Valedictorians, Student Body Officers Give Virtual Commencement Speeches
May 22, 2020, 8:20 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Graduation ceremonies have looked different all across the state this year, including those tough fought spots for senior speeches.
With some graduations going virtual, many of those speeches were delivered by valedictorians, salutatorians, senior class presidents and officers to empty auditoriums. Despite untraditional ceremonies, their messages of resilience and fortitude were especially powerful.
“I would say thank you for being here if I actually had people in front of me, but I guess a more correct term would be thank you for tuning in,” Alyssa Enslen, Valedictorian at Grantsville High School joked at the beginning of her speech.
Students from more than 20 different schools across the state shared their commencement speeches with KSL TV. These powerful addresses were filled with reminders of their fellow classmates’ abilities to press forward in times of difficulties and come together even though they were physically separated.
Anderson DeSilva, Senior Class President at Alta High School, said, “The challenges don’t get any easier from here, but as we continue to overcome and grow, next time things go wrong, know that you can do this. You’ve done it before.”
Speakers reminisced on cherished school days before distant learning. “Our high school years have come to an abrupt and unsatisfying end. We have completed our classes online while sitting in our pajamas. I’d be more than willing to trade in a Google Meet session for one more day at Carbon High,” Abbie Saccamanno, Valedictorian at Carbon High School, said.
While other speakers like Dallin Bundy, Student Body President at Dixie High School, encouraged their class to focus on the memories they created during their four years. “We can all agree that our high school chapter ended at a cliffhanger, that this pandemic stole what we rightfully earned, but take a moment to think about all of the things we accomplished during our time here at Dixie High,” he said.
While each commencement speaker commented on the uniqueness of their school experience, each agreed the class of 2020 would always be remembered.
“Some may try to label us as the Class of COVID-19, but we are so much more than that. We are the class of grit, the class of overcoming, the class of triumph,” Makayla Lear, Valedictorian at Grantsville High, beautifully said.
Congrats to the class of 2020!
Next week, KSL Newsradio will continue to broadcast commencement speeches in their entirety from all across the state as part of KSL’s ongoing coverage to honor 2020 high school graduates.
