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Area schools set commencement exercises

May 30, 2017 11:31AM ● By Julie Slama

Jordan Valley’s Denvyre Smith receives her diploma at the school’s 2016 commencement exercises. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

By Julie Slama | [email protected]
 
Graduating students are set with caps and gowns as commencement exercises will be taking place for several area schools.
 
In Draper, about 520 Corner Canyon High School students are expected to participate in the 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 6 commencement exercises at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. No tickets are required and the venue is accessible for people with disabilities.
 
The theme of the graduation is from Socrates: “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting
the old, but on building the new.”
 
Principal Darrell Jensen will be joined on stage by Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent Kathryn McCarrie, Canyons Board of Education President Sherril Taylor and Board member Chad Iverson.
 
Student speakers include Senior Class President Zoey Marty and students Abby Gates, Brandon Bills and Jack Jensen.
 
Music will be provided by the school’s jazz band, chamber singers and concert choir. The chamber singers will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner,” arranged by Russell Robinson, and the concert choir will perform David Brunner’s “Song of the Open Road,” featuring Ike Gardiner on piano.
 
An additional musical number will be selected from a student audition, not set by press deadline.
 
Sixteen students are graduating as valedictorians with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages. They are Katherine Bankhead, Sophia Brendle, Jenna Cheminant, Landon Fredrickson, Grace Hanks, Eric Jackson, Benjamin Jensen, Kara Johnson, Audrey Memmott, Bailey Pixton, Theodore Polevoy, Raquel Rhoads, Mark Rockwood, Ammon Savage, Spencer Witt and Riley Wood.
 
American Preparatory Academy will hold its first-ever high school commencement exercises for 10 graduates at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 3 at its Draper II campus’ multi-purpose room.  The venue is accessible for people with disabilities.
 
The valedictorian, Celeste Hompstead, will give the student address.  Joining her on stage will be Secondary Director Daniel Baker and Executive Director Carolyn Sharette. The program will include a performance by the school’s Madrigals.
 
Juan Diego Catholic High held its commencement May 27, with its baccalaureate mass on May 23.
 
In Sandy, Jordan Valley will graduate four students at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 1 on the school’s stage to the theme of “Adventures of a Lifetime.” A Board of Education speaker had yet to be named at press deadline.
 
A slide show will highlight each student’s life, followed by a family reception featuring the students’ favorite foods.
 
The Waterford School will hold its commencement exercises at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 1 at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. All Waterford students, faculty, families and friends are invited to attend the ceremony.
 
Diamond Ridge will hold its graduation ceremony at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 1 at Mt. Jordan Middle School.
 
About 420 Alta High students will graduate at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 6 at the Huntsman Center.  No tickets are required and the venue is accessible for people with disabilities.
 
The theme is “It’s not impossible; it just hasn’t been done yet.”
 
Joining Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent Kathryn McCarrie on stage will be Canyons Board of Education President Sherril Taylor. Student speakers include Thane Zeeh and Rachel Pomeroy. 
 
Musical performances are Isaac Hilbig and Jacob Egbert on cello and piano, respectively, performing a medley of all the themes of Alta’s dances; and vocalist Kristen Fairbourn performing “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin.
 
About 435 Jordan High students will walk through commencement exercises at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 6 at the school’s football stadium. There is overflow parking available in the South Town Expo Center. If there is inclement weather, graduation will be moved to 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 6 in the Maverick Center in West Valley City. No tickets are necessary at either venue and both venues are accessible for people with disabilities.
 
This year’s theme is “Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one.”
 
Speaking at the ceremony will be Principal Tom Sherwood, Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent Robert Dowdle and Board of Education member Clareen Arnold. 
 
As of press deadline, no student speakers or musical selections had been announced.
 
Entrada will hold its commencement exercises at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 27 at Jordan High School.
 
In Midvale, Hillcrest will graduate 435 students at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 6 in the Maverick Center. No tickets are required and the venue is accessible for people with disabilities.
 
The theme is “The secret to change is not to focus all your energy on fighting the old, but building the new.”
 
Senior class president Ashley Nairobi Jimenez will give a welcoming address. Speakers include Principal Greg Leavitt, Canyons School District Superintendent Jim Briscoe and Board of Education Mont Millerberg. Board member Amber Shill will join them on stage. Students Sidney Naegle and Quinn Welch will give the student addresses as well as Student Body President Stockton Ashby. Senior class vice president Joshua Steven Katzenbach will lead the processional.
 
The musical number, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” will be performed by the symphonic band, concert choir, chamber orchestra and percussion ensemble. The symphonic band will perform the processional, as well. The school drill team will join members of the U.S. Army in the flag ceremony.
 
Announcers include students Sara Elizabeth Diggins, Michael Young, Ethan Shupe and Quinn Ann-Kellene Welch.
 
In Cottonwood Heights, Brighton High will hold its commencement at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 6 in the Maverick Center in West Valley City. No tickets are required and the venue is accessible for people with disabilities.