On Wednesday night Cougar Stadium was filled with wildcats, as the seniors from West Ranch High School walked the stage and pulled off one last senior prank. 

Over 400 West Ranch seniors accepted their diplomas, 220 of which were honor scholars, meaning they maintained a 3.0 GPA throughout their high school career. Families cheered on, and many held up larger-than-life sized photos of their loved ones as the graduates walked into the stadium. 

“Pomp and Circumstance” and the National Anthem were both played by the school’s symphony orchestra. 

Once all graduates were seated, Principal Robert Fisher welcomed the crowd, acknowledged the class of 2023 as his first graduating class since becoming principal at West Ranch. 

One of the first things we did together was place me in a dunk tank in the quad,” recalled Fisher.  “Where seniors Connor and Ryan were uncharacteristically  inconsistent in their accuracy with a football.”

The class of 2023 were sure to continue the tradition of mischief, as it was arranged unknowingly to Fisher, that every senior was to carry a playing card with them and hand it to Fisher when shaking his hand. 

By the time the ceremony ended, Fisher held over 400 playing cards, making the handshake all the more fun and difficult to manage. 

Principal Fisher holds up over 400 playing cards.

But before the joke could begin, families and friends heard from two student speakers, the first being Jo Jojo, who kept the audience laughing. 

“We entered West Ranch as timid, acne-filled freshman, and we graduate today as brave, intelligent, slightly less acne-filled seniors,” said Jojo. “While A squared plus B squared equals C squared is going to be crucial to all of our lives, the most important lesson West Ranch has offered us is a foundation of good character.” 

Student speaker Jo Jojo.

The final student speaker was Carys Hay, who encouraged her classmates to ask themselves a crucial question: who do you want to be?

“I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know what my major is. I barely know where the Wellness Center is,” said Hay. “Well, I challenge us as graduates to reframe our mindsets. Instead of thinking what we want to be, imagine who you want to be.”

Student speaker Carys Hay.

After speeches, Superintendent Mike Kuhlman and Hart District Board President Bob Jenson confirmed the graduates and the walking of the stage commenced, with names read by ASB President Siddarth Sudan and Class President Adhitya Ram. 

After 400 students walked the stage, the same number of caps were thrown into the air, marking the completed ceremony.  

“Whatever your dreams are, chase them. When we’re told to walk, we run, when we’re told to run, we fly,” reminded Jojo. 

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