A Pendleton High School graduate gets a hug after a commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Pendleton Round-Up Arena.

PENDLETON — The Pendleton High School Class of 2023 threw off their caps and celebrated their graduation the morning of Saturday, June 3, at the Round-Up Grounds, sending off a class of special talents for the school’s 131st commencement.

“To say we have talent in this class is an understatement,” PHS Principal Patrick Dutcher said as he addressed a full crowd of students’ families and friends. “I’m pleased to introduce to you all the Pendleton High School Class of 2023.”

Students dressed in Buckaroo green entered with their tasseled caps to a roar from the crowd, filtering into the Round-Up arena where they would listen to speeches from administrators and classmates, before hearing their names and claiming their diplomas.

Though a total of 173 students would be graduating from PHS on June, 3, not all were present at the Round-Up Grounds, as the baseball team was in Keizer for the Oregon State 4A baseball championship taking on the No. 1 ranked Scappoose High School.

Those students, Dutcher said, would have a special ceremony this evening and graduate on the mound. Then, he said, they’ll bring home a baseball championship.

“It is my pleasure today to be able to honor some of the individuals that had a hand in getting us to where we are today,” PHS Associated Student Body President and graduate Stella Rabb said. “I know not all teachers, counselors and other staff members from the Pendleton School District are here today, but I ask those here to please stand and be recognized.”

Throughout the crowd, faculty, administrators and staff from PHS and the Pendleton School District stood to a resounding applause from the students awaiting their diplomas.

“We could not have done this without you,” Rabb said. “Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to visit the elementary schools to walk the halls we once did as young students. We were able to see our past teachers, it was a great way to be able to see them again one more time. Some of those teachers had a lasting impact on us. Another group of people directly responsible for our success are our parents and families. Thank you for your support and understanding.”

The future of PHS students graduating was filled with diversity and opportunity, the second speaker RyLee Demianew said, with students heading to a wide variety of colleges, professions, and futures.

“Now some of us are going to NYU, West Point, Santa Clara, U of A, or the Catholic University in Washington, D.C.,” Demianew said. “Some of us are staying close to home, going to OSU, BMCC or branching out into different paths in the workforce. I hope each and every one of you always remember to be yourself. Remember who you are, and where you came from, and remember, it’s always time to be real.”

Several students took the opportunity to don cultural sashes, with graduate Liliana Sosa successfully advocating for them in the week leading up to graduation.

“Graduating is stressful, but I’m excited. I really love all the friends I made and the school events, the school worked really hard to make sure those could happen for us,” graduate Allen Nguyen said.

Nguyen was wearing a unique sash among her peers, which depicted the Vietnamese flag, which she said she donned to celebrate her heritage.

“There aren’t a lot of Asian Americans in this school, and I wanted to represent that because I come from very hard times for my family, and I’m going to be the first one to ever go to college,” Nguyen said. “I just really wanted to represent that.”

While some students were headed off to college or getting ready to join the workforce, others donned special sashes or their service uniforms as they prepared to commit to joining the armed forces.

“I’m a member of the National Guard, I enlisted in May of 2022,” PFC Jared Reagan said. “I did my basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and shipped back here to finish my last year of school. I’ll be heading to Fort Lee Virginia on June 21 to complete what I call my job training.”

Others, such as Christian Garcia, who wore a cultural sash representing his Hispanic heritage, said they enjoyed their time at Pendleton High and will miss their involvement in school sports as they prepare to take their next steps in life.

“Sports were a standout,” Garcia said, who played basketball and soccer. “School here really was not bad, I’d say it was pretty good.”

At the end of the commencement, Pendleton School District Superintendent Kevin Headings certified that each student who had received a diploma had met the requirements for graduating, and the students tossed their caps, officially bringing their time in high school to an end.