Friday, October 2, 2026
The New Market High School Class of 2025 was honored at a graduation ceremony at New Market Skills Center Lecture Hall in Tumwater on Wednesday, June 4.
The event, which marked the 34th annual graduation ceremony for the high school, started with the procession of graduates and ASB Vice President Pearl Olson-Boger reading the “Land Acknowledgment.” Cadets from the Navy JROTC program at New Market presented the Colors, followed by the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
Executive Director of Skills Center Matt Ishler gave welcoming remarks and talked about the “Power of Showing Up.” Tumwater School District Superintendent Kevin Bogatin also gave welcoming remarks at the ceremony.
New Market High School Instructor Paul Polston Barnes welcomed the graduates and guests, and highlighted the role the Skills Center classes have at the high school.
Graduating senior Cora Bataeff was the first student speaker, followed by Lydia Jurceka. Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim was the guest speaker. He talked about the secret of success in life being rooted in Hope Theory — the idea that hope, coupled with agency, develops a mindset to pursue goals and find multiple pathways to success.
The school then handed out recognition awards and honored two students as Student of the Year — Cora Bataeff and Lydia Jurceka.
The high school graduates were then introduced with their names read as they walked to the stage; a slide show displayed their senior photo and a baby photo along with an employability quote from their Skills Center program instructor.
Prior to the ceremony there was a slide show for guests displaying pictures from throughout the year in both high school and Skills Center programs. It also included slides with senior quotes, pictures and acknowledgement of student award winners from throughout the year (Most Employable Students of each quarter), and slides highlighting each of the Skills Center programs.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here