Mid-Prairie presents 82 diplomas to class of 2021

A packed gym at Mid-Prairie High School for its 2021 graduation ceremony was a symbol of the beginning of a return to normalcy after an unprecedented school year dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Principal Jay Strickland, in his address to the 82 members of the Class of 2021, praised the students for successfully navigating the arduous year.

“Your class has already mastered mental toughness and grit,” Strickland said.

He urged the class to choose their passions, manage their inner circles and continue to practice grit.

Superintendent Mark Schneider acknowledged the difficulties of the school year.

“Challenges are what makes life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful,” Schneider said.

During her senior reflections speech, Elizabeth Meader told her classmates that everyone had a different definition of success and not to confuse success with satisfaction.

“If we spend our lives worshipping success, we’ll never feel satisfaction,” Meader said. “Satisfaction is far more lucrative than success.”

Emily Swartzentruber told her fellow members of the Class of 2021, “Don’t wish all of your time away.”

Natali Miller reminded her classmates, “What you do with your life is nobody else’s choice but yours.”

Following the senior reflections, Strickland introduced Eryk Hovde as valedictorian and Gavin Frascht as salutatorian.

Sunday’s ceremony marked the final Mid-Prairie graduating class for Strickland.

Strickland is leaving Mid-Prairie to move back to his hometown of Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Schneider recognized Strickland during Sunday’s ceremony and thanked him for his service to Mid-Prairie.

“I’m never going to be able to hear the word ‘grit’ again,” Schneider joked, referring to one of Strickland’s favorite terms.