Remember that you will... always be a Hodag

They entered high school in the midst of a pandemic, navigated their way through four years of exams and projects, triumphs and setbacks, counting the days until they would arrive at a bittersweet milestone.

On Friday evening, the moment arrived. 

The top 10 members of the Class of 2024 were recognized during commencement exercises Friday evening May 31, 2024 at the Hodag Dome. From left to right are valedictorian Leah Jamison, salutatorian William Quinn, Abi Winnicki, Mason Shinners, Nora Rutkowski, Charles Loomis, Owen Kurtz, Eva Hetland, James Heck and Nicole Brunette.
(Photo by Bob Mainhardt/River News)

After Principal Shane Dornfeld announced them as Rhinelander High School’s newest graduates, the members of the Class of 2024 tossed their caps high into the air and exchanged congratulatory fist bumps and high fives as they walked out of the Hodag Dome and into their future.

As senior class president Abi Winnicki put it in her commencement speech, “now there are no more days for us to wish away.”

She advised her classmates to “immerse themselves in the beauty and significance of the moment” and celebrate their collective achievements together before embarking on their separate paths toward new adventures.

“It all changes today,” echoed senior speaker Alyssa Smits. 

“Remember that you will always be a Hodag,” she added. “Just know that you are never alone when going out into this big world and starting your next journey.”

Faculty speaker Megan Cihla, an RHS grad herself and a science teacher at the school, lauded the group’s kindness, generosity and commitment to making a positive difference in the world. 

“Whether it’s lending a helping hand to a struggling classmate, standing up for what you believe in, or going above and beyond to serve your community, you’ve shown time and time again that you are more than just students, you are leaders, innovators and agents of change,” she told the group.

Rhinelander High School Class of 2024 valedictorian Leah Jamison speaks during commencement exercises on Friday evening, May 31, 2024 at the Hodag Dome.
(Photo by Bob Mainhardt for the River News)

She ended her remarks by encouraging the new grads to carry with them “the lessons of compassion, collaboration and camaraderie” that they learned at RHS.

“As you navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, know that you do not walk alone,” Cihla added. “You carry with you the support, the encouragement and the collective wisdom of a community that believes in you and celebrates your every success.”

In her valedictory speech, Leah Jamison shared that the senior class visited Hodag Park last week to enjoy a “senior sunset” together.

“As I watched the sun drop below the horizon it seemed the perfect representation of our time together,” she said, adding that sometimes people “complicate life too much and the sunset is a good reminder that it is important to take time each day to just live in the moment...”

“Just as the sunset marks the end of one day and the beginning of another, so to does a graduation mark the end of one chapter in life and the beginning of another,” she noted. “It’s a time of reflection, of looking back on where we’ve been and looking forward to where we’re going.”

“As we leave here tonight we may be able to catch the end of one more sunset together,” she concluded. “Please take a minute to take it in. Be proud of the hard work that has brought you here and look forward to your next chapter which is just over the horizon...”

To view the full graduation ceremony, visit www.hodagtv.com.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].