photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School senior Haleigh Dahl participates in the school's graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

The Free State High School Firebirds were like phoenixes in 2021, and graduate Yoav Gillath praised them at Wednesday’s commencement for rising from the ashes left by the coronavirus pandemic to complete their high school education.

At the end of their junior year, the graduates saw their high school careers disrupted by the pandemic, causing most of their final school year to be conducted through computer screens. However, persevering through that disruption only made them stronger, Gillath said.

“COVID-19 came as we prepared to leave our junior year, but it has stayed with us much longer than that,” Gillath said. “It took our senior year. But in the loss, we have found a resolve no generation can boast.”

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School senior Yoav Gillath addresses the graduating class at the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium. Gillath’s senior speech was titled “Finding Our Flight.”

About 430 Free State graduates celebrated the end of their high school careers Wednesday in front of friends and family. The new graduates were the 24th class to earn their diplomas from the school.

Gillath emphasized that the graduates’ journeys were only beginning. He urged his fellow graduates to improve society by looking to help their community even after the pandemic’s end. And he said that the graduates will be remembered by the things they do to change the world, not by what they did in school.

“So go out there, Firebirds, and rise from the ashes of the pandemic to fight for a new world free of the problems of our past,” Gillath said.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School senior Bryn Perrins addresses the graduating class at the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium. Her senior speech was titled “To The Stars.”

Graduate Bryn Perrins shared similar sentiments. While the pandemic has resulted in “trying times,” the students have also had much success in overcoming them, she said.

She asked her classmates to continue to reach for the stars, whether that’s through pursuing goals and dreams or by demonstrating tolerance and kindness toward others.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Superintendent Anthony Lewis participates in Free State High School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

Superintendent Anthony Lewis also praised the graduates for persevering through the pandemic to successfully reach the end of their high school careers.

He asked the students to go out into the world and not only strive for success, but strive to be good people as well.

“Go and be great,” he said. “Go on and change the world.”

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Dorian Horton, front, and Ceci Pitts, third from right, lead Free State High School’s graduating class toward the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School senior Rebecca Feng participates in the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School seniors participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School seniors participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School seniors Adam Baker, right, Alayna Baker, center, and Warrick Baldwin participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School Principal Myron Graber address the graduating class at the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Three Free State High School seniors sing the national anthem during in the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School senior Braiden Bangalan sings the national anthem during the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence school board President Kelly Jones participates in Free State High School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School seniors participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Family and friends of Free State High School seniors cheer for graduates during the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the school’s stadium.