With rapid changes, core values essential, SLHS grads are told
'These lessons are not new, but they’re needed now more than ever.'
SOAP LAKE — With graduation, the 32 seniors of Soap Lake High School’s Class of 2026 are now entering “one of the fastest-changing moments in history” due to rapidly advancing technology, including artificial intelligence, and shifting social orders.
And navigating this new landscape will test their character and leadership, SLHS principal William Britt told the Eagle grads during the high school's 68th commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 6.
There will be times of failure in their future lives, Britt acknowledged, but he urged them, “Don’t retreat … Failure is not the enemy of success. Fear is.”
As they now enter the workforce, join the military, or go off to college, he encouraged them all to stay grounded, maintain faith, have a sense of purpose, be adaptable, and “show up for others.”
Character is revealed by “doing what is right … when things get hard,” said Britt. And leadership, he said, evolves from listening carefully, asking questions, seeking facts and perspective, and not rushing to judgment.
“These lessons are not new, but they’re needed now more than ever,” Britt told the class. “Now, go out and lead. Not by title, but by example.”
Along with others, Britt expressed thanks and appreciation to school district staff, parents and families, and the community for their care and commitment to the graduates from their “first days” as young students to “this milestone event.”
Class valedictorian Tanya Zubritskiy echoed those sentiments, saying, “We all have a story … (but) you believed in us even in times when we didn’t believe in ourselves.”
Without their help, the seniors “wouldn’t be walking across this stage,” said Zubritskiy. “Keep dreaming. Keep trying. It’s a great day to be an Eagle.”
Class president Brooke Dana and ASB president Jade Lopez shared memories through the years of sno-cone treats and snowball fights, picture books and classroom lectures, sports and FFA activities, corny jokes, and more.
“All led to here,” said Dana.
“So many memories,” said Lopez. “We celebrated each other. That’s what we are – a class that sticks together.” To parents and families, she said, “This graduation is not just for us, but all of you.”
The SLHS faculty was represented by teacher Lee Leavell, who quipped the graduates would likely miss his “Dad Jokes” and “Bad Joke Fridays,” but their parents are now looking forward to “(kicking) those freeloaders out of your house.”
But seriously …. Through the years, Leavell said both parents and teachers have watched the classmates “grow into responsible adults” despite challenges that included “the weird COVID year.”
“The memories you made will live on forever,” said Leavell. He encouraged them to enjoy “their newfound freedoms,” to travel abroad, to challenge themselves “with things that scare you.” And in a decade, he said, their 10-year class reunion will be “a surreal moment” in realizing “you’ve all grown up.”
The commencement featured a video with images showing the seniors from early childhood to gowned graduation garb.
School counselor Jeremiah Baergen said nearly one-third of the class had been together since kindergarten — Brooke Dana, Mylee Dana, Riley Frazier, Ramiro Lozano Sanchez, Maryanna Miller, Liana Sushik, Marina Teleguz, Kendra Webster, Tanya Zubritskiy, and Alyson Zufall.
Other classmates are Erika Beregovoy, Nadiya Bess, Ashley Calles, Lenny Campos, Isaac Contreras, Abram Cox, Oleh Doroshenko, Ulya Dotsenko, Xavier Ewing, Olivia Fedas, Gracie Main, Sage Hart, Sofia Kriuchkova, Chloe Lindgren, Jade Lopez, Iryna Lutsenko, Christian Minneker, Samantha Norman, Francisco Ortega, Grayson Pippins, Jairo Ramos Coreas, and Jocsan Sanchez Cruz.
Of them, Erika Beregovoy, Nadiya Bess, Ulya Dotsenko, and Chloe Lindgren also attended Big Bend Community College as Running Start students while Brooke Dana, Mylee Dana, Kendra Webster, and Alyson Zufall took classes at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center in Moses Lake.
Along with Lopez, ASB officers included Riley Frazier, Alyson Zufall, and Liana Sushik, who was also class salutatorian.
Saturday’s afternoon ceremony opened with Andrew Schopf singing the National Anthem. Soap Lake School Board members are Donald Clark, Curt Dotson, Nicole Frazier, Signe Knudsen, and Rebecca Leavell.
