BELLEVUE – Bellevue High School held its 151st commencement ceremony for 150 seniors at the Bellevue Athletic Facility May 29.
Tradition is strong in Bellevue, with 11 students being fourth-generation graduates, meaning that those students had at least one parent, grandparent and great-grandparent who graduated from Bellevue.
Among those fourth-generation graduates was 2026 Class President Brock Meacham, who gave the class address.
Meacham emphasized not just the student’s formal educational excellence, but also the little things that marked their days and the life skills learned out of the classrooms.
“In these exact moments, we learned many things that you can’t put on a transcript. We learned how to trust each other, how to fail and try again, how to be part of a team, a family, a school and a community. Something bigger than ourselves. We learned how to keep showing up,” Meacham said. “What is next? For some, they already know what their next move will be, but others are trying to figure everything out. Whatever the case may be, one thing I am certain about is that whatever brought us here will take us farther. Keep showing up. Show up to your future, show up to your goals, even when you think you are not going anywhere. Show up for the people in your life because those relationships will matter more than you realize. And most importantly, show up for yourself.”
Those students did much more than just show up: They earned 189 scholarships for a total of $402,546.
The occasion was probably as big, or bigger, for many of the parents. After the ceremony, parents, family and friends rushed down to the football field to get photos with the new graduates.
“I can’t believe that this is my last kid that’s graduating,” Sara Mahan said about her son Tryston.
Their futures also have some variety: 50% are enrolled in four-year colleges, 3% enlisted in the military, 15% are already employed, 11% are enrolled in two-year or tech schools and 11% are enrolled in trade, nursing school or apprenticeship programs.
One father, Tony Nelson, had some advice for parents and students.
“Never give up. Follow your dreams. It doesn’t matter what happens. Perseverance. I can’t believe how quickly it’s done. It goes so fast,” Nelson said as his son, Cadence Scott Estep, received his diploma.
Contact Roger LaPointe at 419-332-2674.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Bellevue High School holds 151st commencement for 150 grads
Reporting by Roger LaPointe, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
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