MLHS grads look forward, not back
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald For some Moses Lake graduates, they have built lasting relationships and friendships over the years. These two young women took the time to make that known during Saturday’s graduation ceremonies at Lions Field.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake senior Spencer Kimbro receives his diploma on Saturday at Lions Field. Kimbro is headed to the University of Alabama next fall on a wheelchair basketball scholarship.
MOSES LAKE — With their tassels turned, members of the Moses Lake High School class of 2018 were mostly looking forward, and not back.
“I’m so happy, I’ve waited so long for this, and now that it’s here, it doesn’t feel real,” said graduate Carolin Bigwood as she mingled with members of the MLHS band after the ceremony.
“I’m going to miss band and choir for sure, all the friendships, the teachers, and the moments,” she added.
But Bigwood said she wasn’t going to miss homework and required classes, though she added that she understands those things are reality of college too. Bigwood plans on attending Central Washington University in the fall, where she will study music therapy.
“I’m going to Washington State University to study agriculture, but I’ll be coming back to Moses Lake to farm,” said Brandon Stevens, who plans on continuing in his family’s seed-farm business.
Bigwood was one of 460 MLHS seniors to graduate on Saturday at Lions Field in what was the school’s 72nd commencement, finishing what MLHS English teacher Robert McCaffery called their “13-year journey” through public education.
McCaffery, who has been a teacher and coach for 35 years — 28 of them at MLHS — honored athletes, musicians, student volunteers, and even students who work. He also said that the choices all of them will make in the next 10- years — their careers, who they will marry, and whether they will have kids — are the most important choices they will make in their lives.
“I hope you have kids. I hope you have lots of kids,” he said. “That gives us teachers job security.”
He also reminded them that success is not a matter of how much money you make, or how nice a house you have, or how important your job is.
“Success is doing the best to achieve your goal to be the best of your ability,” McCaffery said.
As they got ready to turn those tassels, MLHS Principal Jake Long wanted to remind them that Moses Lake will always be their home.
“I wish you the very best in life,” Long said. “No matter what happens, you will always be Moses Lake Chiefs.”
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.