BFHS graduates 105 seniors for class of 2014

By AARON BOHACHEK

Staff writer

BONNERS FERRY — Light breezes and warm sunshine greeted 105 seniors for the Bonners Ferry High School class of 2014 graduation ceremony May 31.

Family and friends filled the home side bleachers and braved sunburns to spread across to football field on folding chairs and blankets.

Keynote speaker was BFHS history and economics teacher Gina Brown.

“What does it take to be happy?” she asked. “If you were in my economics class this year, you would probably say, lots of money.”

Actually, a lot of things have to come together to have a happy life, she said, and gave the students a cooking lesson.

“A happy life is like your favorite recipe,” she said. “Some ingredients work well together. Some don’t.” Without quality ingredients, she said, the end product would end up something you would feed to the dog.

The first ingredient for a happy life is a career you love, she said.

“A quarter of your adult life is spent working. You don’t want to spend the next 40 years dreading work,” she said. “And its OK to change your mind.”

The second ingredient for a happy life is the people you spend it with.

“Stay away from toxic people,” she said. “Pick someone to spend the rest of your life with who is loyal, responsible, caring and will keep you out of trouble.”

Finally, Brown told her students to be true to themselves. She quoted Judy Garland, who said,

“Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.”

“Happiness is like retirement,” Brown said. “It doesn’t just happen. You have to plan for it.”

Four valedictorians addressed their fellow students.

Camille Awbrey had an 11-point list of funny, serious and useful things students should have learned during their school careers, including, “Respect your elders,” “Don’t be a shusher,” “Always keep a dollar in your pocket,” and “Always play dodgeball if it is an option.”

Camille Awbrey talked about how much growing up in a small town like Bonners Ferry meant to her.

“Bonners Ferry is our home and it always will be,” she said. “To this community I would like to say thank you for raising us.”

Robert Swanson told his classmates he had turned down a a cash offer from an unnamed teacher to speak for more than half an hour.

His more concise speech looked forward to the next stage in each graduate’s life. He described how the tiny movement at the hinge of a farm gate affects great change at the other end. No matter how small your actions, “You can change the world,” he said. He closed with Badger pride.

“Anyone can bleed red,” he said, “It takes a special someone to bleed blue, white, and silver all at once.”

Brook Wilson gave the final valedictorian speech.

“I hope that in each of our futures, we find the strength to follow what inspires us, take the lessons life brings and learn from them, and never lose curiosity for the world around us,” she said.

Camille Awbrey, Anika Blackmore, Collin Cossairt, Gabriel Fioravanti, Dalin Hubbard, McKenzie MacDonald, Sierra Spangler, Robert Swanson, Krista Waalkens, Brook Wilson and Cameron Woods graduated with high honors diplomas.

Students graduating with honors diplomas include Connor Bennett, Jessica Betancourt, Kylie Byars, Collin Luther, Eamonn McCoy, Jake Perez, Joshua Pluid, Brandy Schuman, Christian Trocke and Kate Wood.