‘Go on and be great’: Lawrence High graduates urged to be proud of their alma mater, look to the future

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School senior Eric Galbreath participates in the school's graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

Before Lawrence High School’s 145th commencement, as the 352 graduates were lining up in the hallway of Allen Fieldhouse, Hanna Liebegott said she wasn’t nervous about delivering an address to her classmates.

“I do debate and perform with the choir,” Liebegott said before Tuesday’s ceremony, shrugging off any thought of jitters.

When it was her turn to speak, she tried to pass on that sense of calm to her peers, encouraging them to take deep breaths. In the past four years, she told them they had grown and embodied what it means to be Chesty Lions, the school mascot.

“For me, it means to be brave and courageous and do what is right,” said Liebegott, who will be attending Emporia State University and aspires to become a middle school choir director.

Speakers throughout the evening echoed those sentiments, urging the grads to be proud of where they came from and of how much they’d grown.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School senior Fransoir Jones speaks to the Class of 2019 at the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

In his speech, graduate Fransoir Jones told his classmates about how he came to thrive at Lawrence High School and found goals, ambitions and a sense of community and family.

“I am proud to be part of the class of 2019,” Jones said.

Superintendent Anthony Lewis told the graduates to relish the moment and reflect on the past 13 years of their education, but he reminded them as well that their journey had only just begun.

“The real work starts now,” Lewis said.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Superintendent Anthony Lewis speaks to the Class of 2019 at the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Lewis also told the graduates to honor the people who helped them get to this point and made sacrifices and commitments for them — family, grandparents, teachers and mentors.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Loretta Galbreath and Boopie Butler watch Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Loretta is the grandmother of Eric Galbreath, and Boopie is his great-grandmother.

Among the proud relatives cheering on graduate Eric Galbreath were his great-grandmother Boopie Butler, from Fulton, Mo., and his grandmother Loretta Galbreath, from Jackson, Miss.

“He has done well,” Loretta Galbreath said of her grandson. “We are very proud.”

Seniors Jared Coté, who planned to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City and major in trumpet performance, and Michaela Cordova, who was heading to Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., to study psychology and pre-medicine, both agreed they were excited to be moving on to the next stages of their lives.

“Now we can focus on something we want,” Coté said.

In his speech, Lewis urged the graduates to do just that.

“Take more risks as you explore this world,” Lewis said. “Go on and be great.”

photo by: Ashley Hocking

A Lawrence High School senior sports a decorated graduation cap at the school’s graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Over 350 Lawrence High School seniors participated in the school’s graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

A Lawrence High School senior sports a decorated graduation cap at the school’s graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School history teacher Valerie Schrag participates in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School Athletic Director John Hilton participates in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School seniors Doha Maaty and Nolan Smith receive student awards at the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School senior Eric Galbreath (left) sings the national anthem alongside other Chorale members at the school’s graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School seniors and members of the Chorale choir sing at the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School math teacher Matthew Ellis speaks to a student at the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School science teacher Jo Huntsinger participates in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

Lawrence High School senior Simon Wenger participates in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Hocking

A Lawrence High School senior sports a decorated graduation cap at the school’s graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

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