Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Catherine Carmody adjusts a graduation gown on her son Gavin Carmody who took it from his graduating senior brother Gage Carmoday Monday May 20, 2014 during the Nikiski Middle-High School graduation in Nikiski, Alaska.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Catherine Carmody adjusts a graduation gown on her son Gavin Carmody who took it from his graduating senior brother Gage Carmoday Monday May 20, 2014 during the Nikiski Middle-High School graduation in Nikiski, Alaska.

Nikiski grads overcome adversity

  • By Rashah McChesney
  • Saturday, May 24, 2014 10:40pm
  • News

There was perhaps no better visual metaphor of Nikiski High School’s 37 graduates than the cluster of toy soldiers marching up Cory Carr’s graduation cap.

As Carr moved around the room laughing, stooping to hug friends and smiling for selfies — the soldiers defied the inexorable pull of gravity and clung bravely to his head — much like the students at Nikiski have done after recent events.

“You know, it has been a rough time and it’s just a testament to the community that they can come together like this,” said Nikiski Middle-High School Principal Daniel Carstens during the school’s Tuesday graduation ceremony.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

This year’s graduation was especially impactful for Carstens whose oldest son, Seth Carstens received his diploma.

The elder Carstens said he held himself together well until the school played its traditional senior photo slideshow during the ceremony.

“The thing that really snuck up on me … was when they showed the baby pictures. I had to catch my breath,” Daniel Carstens said.

One of the highlights of his year, Daniel Carstens said, was sitting down with his 18-year-old son and having a long talk.

“I was able to sit down about a week and a half ago and we talked about a lot of things,” he said.

Portions of the ceremony were punctuated with laughter — especially as class president Richard Vollertson tried to balance out what he termed as valedictorian Michael Hollinger and class speaker Carla Jenness’ serious messages.

Vollertson imitated late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon’s piano skit during his speech.

“I’m just glad people were able to laugh,” Vollertson said.

As the graduate stood in the cafeteria of Nikiski High School, wearing a necklace with several bowties folded from $1 and $5 bills and another made with his favorite sour candies — he said he had been looking forward to his speech all year.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get valedictorian and I like to be in front of people, so I went for class president,” he said with a laugh.

The day took on a surreal quality for Vollertson.

“I’m off on my own, I have to go to college and get a job, provide for a family,” he said, shaking his head.

He plans to attend Kenai Peninsula College and get his degree in business before transferring to a college in California to get an advanced degree.

“I like talking to people, I like directing people,” he said. “Maybe I’ll do some acting on the side.”

As Vollertson attempted to discern what his future held, others exhorted students to try something different.

Hollinger urged his fellow students to ignore the fog of the future and focus on the present.

“Who we are is not so much defined by what we do or what we will do but, instead, how and why we live our lives,” he said. “Yes, we must know our direction, yes we must have goals, but we do not need to know exactly how we get there.”

Hollinger said his generation is consistently being told that it’s their responsibility to change the future.

“How can we change 15 or 30 years from now? Honestly, I don’t think we can because we’re not there yet,” he said. “We don’t know what tomorrow will look like, we don’t even know if we have another day. But what we do have is right here and right now. Yes, we must halt these approaching quandaries, but we cannot do that by solving tomorrow’s problems. We must accomplish it by improving today.”

 

Rashah McChesney can be reached at rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  A crowd cheers wildly for the newly graduated class of 2014 Nikiski Middle-High School students Monday May 20, 2014 in Nikiski, Alaska.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion A crowd cheers wildly for the newly graduated class of 2014 Nikiski Middle-High School students Monday May 20, 2014 in Nikiski, Alaska.

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof to close Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in