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Life’s new journey

Minot High honors 440 graduates

Mark Jones/MDN Members of the Minot High School Class of 2017 watch as other class members receive their diplomas during the school’s commencement exercises Sunday at the Minot State Dome.

Minot High School honored its 440 graduating seniors with the 2017 commencement exercises Sunday afternoon at the Minot State Dome.

The arena was filled to near capacity as family and friends watched students receive their diplomas. Most students wore maroon caps and gowns while others wore yellow.

Mark Vollmer, superintendent for Minot Public Schools, opened the ceremony with remarks, which included some impressive accomplishments by the Class of 2017.

Vollmer’s said this class has earned a combined $1.5 million in scholarships. He also made mention of 28 students who maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout their time at Minot High.

“We are very proud of these 440 graduates,” he said.

Mark Jones/MDN Members of the Minot High School Class of 2017 throw their caps into the air at the conclusion of Sunday’s commencement exercises at the Minot State Dome.

Aaron Klingbeil, who serves as both a teacher and a coach at Minot High, spoke to the graduating class. He spoke on the opportunities this group of graduates has before them.

“There is one choice you did not make,” he said. “You were born in a time and place that gave you this opportunity… Life is amazing for us, we can video chat to the far side of the planet in seconds, while our ancestors waited weeks to get a single word from another country.”

Klingbeil concluded his remarks by reminding the class to be grateful for their situation and circumstances.

“It’s not our choice that earned our birth in this incredible portion of history,” Klingbeil said. “Right now many of our brothers and sisters around the world don’t struggle with Wi-Fi, they struggle for survival. We were just as likely to be born in their shoes as ours.”

Following Klingbeil’s remarks, Minot High seniors Thea Bonebrake and Zachary Krill shared a few thoughts on their time in high school.

“Some of us will be going on to college, others will be starting a new job,” Bonebrake said. “We all share one thing in common – the time spent in the halls at Minot High.”

Krill talked about the struggles of every day life that each individual encounters.

“It’s how we act to these adversities,” he said. “Do we rise to the top or sink to the bottom?”

Krill continued: “Believing in yourself is fundamental to succeeding in life.”

He points out that if you don’t believe in yourself, who will?

Following their remarks, the handing out of diplomas took place. And at the conclusion of that, Jim Rostad, president of the Minot Public School Board conferred the degrees upon the students.

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