By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Hillsboro High School valedictorians Elise and Emma Heyen challenged their classmates Saturday at Robert C. Brown Gymnasium to expand their horizons and push out of their comfort zones as they enter the next chapter of life. Their speech was part of the 105th annual commencement at HHS.

They said graduating was bittersweet, mixing excitement for what comes next in life with sadness for what is left behind. As freshmen, graduation seemed like it was a lifetime away, but it arrived with startling speed, they said.

They recalled how each level of school — elementary, middle, and high school — had its own benefits and challenges, and how at each step, teachers warned them how much more would be expected at the next step. They said that gradual progression had accomplished its purpose, to prepare the class of 50 students for life beyond the confines of Hillsboro High School.

Salutatorians Rebecca Faber and Matthew Wiebe thanked the parents and teachers in the audience for all of the help preparing them for the next step in their lives.

USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble congratulated the class on earning their diplomas. That achievement is something that nobody can take away from them, he said, but he warned that the only thing it guarantees them is more choices. Noble urged the graduates to make the most of those choices.

Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke presented a key to the city to each of the graduates, encouraging them to make Hillsboro part of their future and not just part of their past.

HHS social science teacher Jim Robb shared with the class lessons he learned from his favorite childhood book, “Treasure Island.” The themes of the book include loyalty, self-sacrifice, friendship, and taking the initiative.

All of the graduates are starting on the adventure of their lives in a world that is rapidly changing, he said.

“Follow your dreams, be a leader, don’t wait for others but solve problems yourself, ask questions and seek answers, reach out to others, and be helpful,” Robb said. “Don’t be a spectator of life, but be an active participant.”

Robb, who is retiring this month after 17 years in Hillsboro schools, said he leaves with a treasure of loyal and true friends. He told the graduates that if they use the lessons of “Treasure Island,” they will accumulate a treasure for themselves.

honors, awards, and scholarships

Joel Allen — President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, honors.

Benjamin Bebermeyer — honors.

Alyssa Bettles — Kansas Board of Regents Scholar.

Rebecca Faber — Salutatorian, President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, high honors.

Alexandra Faul — USD 410 Hillsboro Education Association Scholarship, Alpha Omega Incentive Award, honors.

Ethan Frantz — honors.

Jarod Hamm — President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, high honors.

Bethany Hawkinson — American Legion Post #366 Scholarship, honors.

Landon Herbel — Marion County Farm Bureau Scholarship, Hillsboro Evening Lions Club Scholarship.

Elise Heyen — Valedictorian, President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, Kansas ACT Scholar, C.M. Sextro Academic Scholarship for Mathematics, Kansas State High School Activities Association Award, high honors.

Emma Heyen — Valedictorian, President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, C.M. Sextro Academic Scholarship for Mathematics, Dale Dennis Excellence in Education Award, high honors.

Sarah Hill — honors.

Caleb Hilliard — American Legion Post #366 Scholarship.

Hayley Jirak — honors.

Daniel Kenney — Paul Rundstrom Memorial Scholarship.

Justin King — Kansas Board of Regents Scholar.

Aubrey Meier — Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, Hillsboro Evening Lions Club Scholarship, honors.

Taylor Nikkel — American Legion Post #366 Scholarship, 2011 Built Ford Tough-FFA Scholarship, Agriculture Future of America Scholarship, Wiebe Good Citizen Scholarship, high honors.

Hayley Pankratz — President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, Senior Citizens of Marion County Scholarship, Hillsboro Community Medical Center Scholarship, Wiebe Good Citizen Scholarship, high honors.

Jordan Riggs — President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, honors.

Ashlyn Simmons — Alpha Omega Incentive Award.

Jacob Wiebe — President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, Kansas ACT Scholar, Kansas State High School Activities Association Award, high honors.

Matthew Wiebe — Salutatorian, President’s Award for Edcuational Excellence, Kansas State Scholar, Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, Kansas ACT Scholar, high honors.