Moving on up, high school graduation

MOSES LAKE — Seniors from local high schools start the next chapter with graduation ceremonies beginning this weekend and continuing June 10 and 11.

Graduation ceremonies kick off Friday night in Warden, Ephrata and Othello.

Graduation for the Warden class of 2016 begins at 7 p.m. in the Warden High School gym, 101 Beck Way. The class includes 78 graduates. Valedictorian Trace Cole and salutatorian Shania Kisler are the class speakers.

Graduation also starts at 7 p.m. at Ephrata High School, at Kiwanis Field on Frey Road Northwest. (The field is right behind the high school.) About 170 seniors will graduate; at most high schools, the actual number of graduates remains in flux until the last tests are completed. In Ephrata traditionally the class speakers are chosen by the seniors, and that information wasn’t available at press time.

Othello High School graduation begins at 8 p.m. at Huskie Stadium, behind the high school on East Hemlock Street. (The later hour alleviates a problem with geography; the stands at Huskie Stadium face west, and students were receiving their diplomas right about the time the setting sun made it difficult to see what was going on.) About 220 seniors will graduate. Traditionally Othello graduation features three speakers, the valedictorian, salutatorian and one chosen by the class. For 2016 they are valedictorian Ricardo Maria, salutatorian Aubrie Stevens and class speaker Luis Aceves.

The approximately 450 seniors at Moses Lake High School graduate at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lions Field, behind Frontier Middle School with the main entrance on Fourth Avenue.

Traditionally the seniors choose their speakers, and for 2016 they are Sarah Kersey as the honor speaker and Hudson Mauseth as the class speaker. The class will be introduced by Addison Sair and Victoria Webb.

Graduation ceremonies for the Wilson Creek High School class of 2016 are at 11 a.m. at the high school gym, 400 Navar St. Eight seniors will graduate. Valedictorian Colten Crane and salutatorian Caleb McMillan are the speakers.

Lind-Ritzville High School seniors will graduate at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gilsen Gym, across the street from the high school, 209 East Wellsandt Ave. No other information was available at press time.

Graduation for Quincy and Soap Lake seniors will be the following weekend.

The Quincy High School class of 2016 graduates at 7 p.m. June 10 at Jaycee Stadium across the street from the high school, 16 Southeast Sixth Ave. No other information was available at press time.

Soap Lake High School seniors finish their careers at 2 p.m. June 11 in the high school gym, 527 Southwest Second Ave. About 26 seniors will graduate. Valedictorian Anuta Agoskova and salutatorian Alic Stoyan will be the speakers.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.