‘Go forth and live’

Just shy of a dozen students received diplomas during Monday’s commencement ceremony for graduates of River City Academy, held at the school’s home base of Skyview Middle School. Clad in turquoise sashes, the group represented a mixed group that included some attendees of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s middle college program.

The gymnasium was decorated with balloons in school colors and filled with graduates’ family, friends and other guests. KPBSD school board member Penny Vadla and district Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes were also there on the district’s behalf.

River City Academy Principal Shea Nash opened the ceremony by saying how the Class of 2024 is special to him because it’s the first group of students he’s overseen during their entire tenure at the school. He made inside jokes while addressing the graduates and even held up one of the ceiling tiles from his former classroom that most of the graduates signed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is the first class that I’ve done the whole trip with, from seventh to 12th grade, and it’s been an awesome trip,” Nash said. “So thank you so much. It’s been my honor teaching you and mentoring you and watching you grow as people.”

River City Academy Salutatorian Christopher Smith used his address to thank the people in his life who’ve supported him on his journey to graduation — his family, friends, coworkers and teachers. He also highlighted some of the amenities that make River City Academy unique, such as the pool table, pingpong setup and ax-throwing opportunities.

“Thank you to everybody here that has shown their support for me and my graduating class,” Smith said. “While we may be teenagers and don’t always show it, we truly appreciate each and every one of you.”

In keeping with school tradition, all graduates were given the opportunity to address attendees, if desired. The brief speeches offered such sage advice as “cause chaos” and reflections on River City Academy’s “stress-free” environment.

River City Academy Valedictorian Melanie Seater recalled fondly her decision to enroll at the school after deciding she wanted to participate in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s middle college program. Seater told her peers to view their graduation as the start of a new chapter and to always believe in themselves.

“Believe in yourself and work hard. Prove that you’re going to take the world by storm,” Seater said. “Trust in those who love you and go forth and live. Become the person you strive to be and never give up.”

Seater was recognized Monday as a recipient of a $12,000 University of Alaska Scholar’s Award and as a recipient of the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Also honored were graduates Evan Arnett, who received the Sterling Masonic Lodge #22’s Student of the Year award, and Reese Terry, who received a $6,500 scholarship from Lee University.

The graduating class’s invited speaker was Annaleah Karron, the college and career coordinator for Kenai Peninsula Middle College. Like Nash, she has also worked with the graduates since they were in middle school and through the disruptions of the COVID-10 pandemic.

“Among the crazy Zoom meetings and advising check-ins, sometimes late into the evening at a distance,” she said, “there was still laughter, there was still learning happening. We discovered new parts of ourselves that we didn’t know existed. We found passion and strength in unexpected places and projects that excited us. This group held on to things that worked and radically changed the things that didn’t.”

Monday’s ceremony concluded with a turning of the tassels ceremony and slices of cake in the Skyview commons.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

Spring 2024 Graduates

Evan Arnett*

Haley Dunham*

Kyler Foster

River Heames

Nannetta Katzenberger*

Malaina Maal*

Nicholas Pankratz

Melanie Seater*

Christopher Smith

William “Reece” Terry*

Boden Wight

*Middle College Student