PAS seniors prepare for graduation

This year’s Pipestone Area Schools Senior Class Committee members are (front row, l-to-r) Ryleigh Nissen, Davina Darveaux, Alyssa Enger, Keera Pottratz, (back row, l-to-r) Ashley Lopez, Samantha Spaethe, Naomi Wallace and Gabriella Pe- tersen. The committee members help choose some elements of the graduation ceremony and other graduation-related events. Photo by Kyle Kuphal

The members of the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) graduating class of 2024 will receive their diplomas on Sunday, May 26 in a ceremony at the PAS gymnasium. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

Each year, the senior class committee helps plan certain elements of the graduation ceremony. This year’s senior class committee includes Alyssa Enger, Keera Pottratz, Gabriella Petersen, Naomi Wallace, Davina Darveaux, Ryleigh Nissen, Samantha Spaethe and Ashley Lopez.

Committee members said they selected a few options for the class colors, class flowers, class motto and music, and then the entire senior class voted to make the final selection. This year the class colors are sage green, dusty pink and beige, and the class flower is a pink tulip. The class motto is “Only you can control your future,” by Dr. Seuss, and the song “Count on me,” by Bruno Mars, will be sung by the senior high choir members during the graduation ceremony. The committee members also helped plan the senior breakfast, which was Thursday, May 16, and the baccalaureate program, which was held Wednesday, May 22.

At the graduation ceremony, Enger and Wallace will present the arrow with the class colors to a representative of the junior class. Other members of the graduating class who will speak at the ceremony include Chloe Olivier, who will provide the welcome, and Isaiah Sandy, who will deliver an address. Middle and High School Principal Sonja Ortman will present the class of 2024, and school board members Chrissy DeBates and Daphne Likness, and Superintendent Klint Willert will present the diplomas. Music will be provided by PAS choir and band members.

As graduation nears, members of the senior class committee said they felt excited, but sad, and described it as bittersweet. They also said they were ready. They said they felt less ready, however, for life after high school, but they were excited nonetheless.

As they looked ahead to post-high school life, most of them said they thought they would end up living in the Pipestone area, or at least somewhere in Minnesota, perhaps somewhere with a lake.

Class of 2024 by the numbers

PAS class of 2024 education plans

Health-related fields are the most common fields of study among the 2024 Pipestone Area Schools graduates who plan to continue their education and have selected a major, according to an annual survey conducted by the school district.

Sixty-five of the 78 graduates plan to further their education. Of those, seven did not list a major or field of study. Here’s a break down of the fields of study listed by the others:

18 – Health-related fields, including nursing, dental, psychology, radiology, medical assistant, health sciences, certified nursing assistant, biology,  and cardia/vascular sonography.

6 – computer-related fields, including computer science, computer engineering, cyber operations and labs.

6 – animal-related fields, including animal science, livestock production and veterinary technician.

6 – business-related fields, including business administration, finance, real estate and marketing.

5 – education-related fields, including music education, special education and elementary education.

5 – criminal justice-related fields, including criminology and forensics.

5 – automobile repair-related fields, including diesel technician, auto body and mechanic.

5 – engineering-related fields, including agriculture engineering, civil engineering and computer engineering.

3 – welding

1 – each planned to study plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning; Biblical study/youth ministry; culinary; communications; Spanish; social work; machinist; and cosmetology