St. Stephens High School will celebrate their seniors today, May 24th. Graduation is set for 12:00 p.m. and you can find some fun coverage live on County 10’s Facebook page!
The Eagles will host a drive-up graduation ceremony, similar to several other county graduations this year. More details on graduation plans from Principal Matt Mortimore can be found here. Earlier this month, St. Stephens celebrated each senior by hanging a banner for them outside of the school. And, to add even more excitement around the school, on Thursday seven student-athletes signed letters of intent to compete in various sports at Fond du lac College in Minnesota!
St. Stephens Superintendent Frank No Runner shared a special message with graduates ahead of Sunday’s graduation, the full message is below in bold;
To the class 2020 of Saint Stephens Indian High School,
I recognize that this is totally different graduation from what you and your families expected, four years ago at the start of your freshman year in high school, you imagined your graduation ceremony to be in a packed Eagles gymnasium with your families, all of them happy at the same time. Who would have told us back then that this is what our new normal would look like?
Over the last eight weeks, technology has brought us to each other’s homes: living rooms, kitchens and even your yard outside serving as backdrop for our virtual learning. Like you, I tried different rooms in my home, until I settled in where it is was quiet to learn.
For many of us this period of time has shown us that people and not things are what is really most essential in our lives. I am sure you will agree that the stay-at-home experience has provoked many times for reflection and thought, sometimes when we least expect it.
The other day, watching my own children and seeing them playing and then sleeping made me think that, at ten and eight years of age respectively, have witnessed many transformative events. I fear what would these events do for my boys and their future.
And then, I remembered what our grandparents, elders, and ancestors endured as Indigenous people under US occupation. In a short period of time, our people have experiences broken treaties, reservation placement, taken from their families to be placed in boarding schools to be abused, given diseases to wipe us out, and yet they have endured all of the past trials and tribulations and we are still here today, as a proud and resilient people.
In the face of adversity? Indigenous people have become a force of nature. Indigenous students are thriving today. As young adults you will blossom. And throughout your life no setback will be large enough to have you lower your head.
Thankfully, we are still here, together in our cars for this graduation. I want for you, for a moment, to think about your own family ancestry. I am sure in your circle there are outstanding relatives who braved the elements, who conquered the odds, who accomplished things that, at the time, would have defied imagination. You have good genes, my students. You have a history. You have reason to be proud. And, yes, you also have been fortunate.
So, in the great occasion of completing your HS education, I want to commend you for this huge accomplishment and I want to inspire you to go out in the world and do extraordinary things. You are strong. You are blessed. And you should be grateful.
Walk out firmly with the conviction that you will exhibit the strength of character and will complete the feats that your descendants will brag about when they face their own share of adversity in the future.
Congratulations, my dear Eagles! May you and yours continue to prosper. Now you go out in the world and shine brightly, in black and red forever.
Go, ‘Eagles, Go!
Frank No Runner, Superintendent of Schools