GRADUATION 2024: Tonganoxie to bid senior class adieu Saturday
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Diplomas are ready to be handed out the morning of commencement exercises in May 2023 at Chieftain Arena on the Tonganoxie High School campus.It’s almost time for Tonganoxie High School seniors to take that next big life step.
Commencement exercises for the THS Class of 2024 will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Chieftain Arena on the THS campus.
Tonganoxie is set to have 154 students walk across the stage during Saturday’s ceremony. In total, this year’s graduating class is at 169, as some aren’t participating or have graduated early and won’t be there for this weekend’s ceremony.
Isabella Estes will give the class welcome, while THS vocalists will perform “Maybe Someday” and “I’ll Always Remember You.”
THS principal Cody Witte will recognize the class’ National Honor Society members and 4.0 grade-point average students, while assistant principal Kelly Hoopes will announce Career Technical Education students, FFA State Degree recipients and recognize those students going into the military.
Estes again will take the stage for more recognition, as she is this year’s salutatorian.
Kasia Baldock, the 2024 valedictorian, will then give an address.
Witte will return to the podium to give his annual principal message before Hoopes and Josey Eastes, dean of students and activities director, present the class.
USD 464 Board of Education members will award diplomas to the Class of 2024.
The Tonganoxie High School band will then perform the recessional.
Graduation escorts are Solomon Carter and Lila Carlton; greeters are Grace Weatherford, Gracelyn Barnett and Noah Carlton.
The graduating class will celebrate its achievement further with Project Grad activities this weekend.
Those festivities for the Class of 2024 will take place Saturday night at the Lenexa Rec Center.
Students being recognized for carrying weighted 4.0 GPAs are Baldock, Lachlan Bond, Kayla Bowden, Marissa Bowlin, Lilly Breuer, , Abbigail Clarkson, Journey Creten, Mallory Dick, Isabella Estes, Graham Foley, Santiana Garcia, Colton Holmgren, Sage Isaacs, Caroline Keene, McKenna Klamm, Macey Lynne, Jackson McWilliams, Kaden Price, Lucille Rieke, Leah Ann Schneweis, Emory Sittner, Mikinzi Smoots, Mariah Sneed, Roman Staples, Aiden Van Middlesworth and Madison Ziolo.
Luka Gvaramadze, who is from the country of Georgia, will receive an honorary diploma.