FHS VALEDICTORIANS NOTE SPECIAL CONNECTION

Twenty graduating seniors say goodbye at emotional ceremony

It was both the end of an era and the start of something new inside the Freeman High School gym as 20 graduating seniors said goodbye to high school Saturday afternoon, May 11.

And in their commencement address, co-valedictorians Ava Andersen and Riley Knittel touched on the importance of community within community — especially this past year.

“We have learned how valuable it is to be surrounded by people who love and care about us,” Andersen said. “High school is a fleeting moment in time, but we get to build meaningful relationships with classmates that make a lasting impact on our lives. Through our greatest joys we have laughed with each other. In impossible trials, we have shown each other love, friendship and grace. It is safe to say that we would not have made it through our most difficult trials if we had not had each other and a whole community there to support us. This year especially has shown us there is nothing more important than having a good group of people in your corner. Life is meant to be shared with the people you love.”

“The most important lesson we have learned is to take nothing for granted,” Knittel said. “Often times people think blessings are only the positive things that happen to them. In reality, blessings can be as little as the ordinary aspects of life that go unnoticed. Blessings are the food we eat, the beds we sleep in, the houses we live in, and the opportunity to go to school. Blessings are the people around us. Every person in our lives is placed there for a reason. Whether it’s a lifelong friend, a stranger on the street, or a worst enemy, there is something to learn from each person, an opportunity to grow. Blessings are the experiences we have. We are not in control of our lives, but we can find comfort knowing there is a loving God by our side every step we take.”

Those statements were shared through an undertone of grief as the Class of 2024 paid tribute to two lost classmates. Sean Hofer died from a gun accident inside his Freeman home when he was a second grader in 2014 and Megan Rollag lost her life in a car accident this past December. Both were honored on Saturday in a number of ways.

Two empty chairs flanked with graduation robes and topped with framed photos of the students were among the others set up on the high school gym stage. The 20 graduates carried pink roses as they walked in to “Pomp and Circumstance” being played on the piano, each setting their flower in a large vase positioned in front of Rollag’s chair. Later in the service, after what is always an emotional flower ceremony anyway, the seniors all presented flowers to the Hofer and Rollag families seated in the audience. Family members also accepted honorary diplomas on behalf of their lost loved ones — Christy Hofer and her two young daughters walked for Sean and Cameron Rollag, Megan’s younger brother, walked for her.

And Andersen and Knittel touched on their loss in their address.

“Graduation looks a little different this year for the class of 2024,” Andersen said. “Today, as we gather to celebrate the achievements of this remarkable group, we do so with a bittersweet acknowledgment of two cherished members who are no longer with us.”

Knittel noted Sean “was a quiet yet clever friend with a playful spirit, and he left a mark on our hearts. His gentle demeanor and quick wit endeared him to all who knew him.

And Andersen called the loss of Megan “heartbreaking.”

“Megan Rollag, Meg, or Megalodon as we knew her, was more than just a classmate,” she said. “She was a true friend, a radiant firecracker who was known for her unwavering honesty, and her welcoming nature.”

“Today, as you look upon this stage, you will notice two empty chairs —seats saved for Sean and Megan, where they rightfully belong,” Knittel said. “Though they are not physically present with us today, their spirits linger in the laughter, the memories, and the bonds we share as the class of 2024.”

Saturday’s 75-minute graduation at Freeman Public was held on a picture-perfect afternoon and also included a welcome from Superintendent Jake Tietje, a student recognition from school principal Katie Juhnke and guidance counselor Kris Sweeter, and the song “Light of Grace” sung by the high school mixed chorus.

The ceremony can be watched on the school’s YouTube channel; just search for Freeman School District 33-1.