Hampton High ‘more than a school’

Amid smiles, laughter and tears, both happy and sad, 14 Hampton Hawks left the nest Saturday afternoon as the community came together to celebrate the Class of 2025. 
From the hugs, flower pinnings and one last official all-class photo in the Career Education Room, to the ringing of the old school bell, the speeches and songs in the gym, to the hugs and pictures outside at the end, Hampton’s 2025 graduation ceremony was a celebration of the shared history and accomplishments of the small group. 
Graduating senior Skyler Scheidemann opened the ceremony by welcoming those gathered, and thanking the staff and school board members, family and friends and the community for their support over the class’s 13-year educational journey. 
Then turning to her classmates she said, “Can you even believe we made it to this day? It’s an absolute miracle that we all passed Government! It’s seriously shocking! But seriously, I want to share this quote with you by Abraham Maslow as we look to the future: ‘At any given moment we have two options, to step forward into growth or step back into safety.’ May you leave here today excited for what the next chapter holds.”
She closed her remarks by reminding audience members to silence their cell phones and urging them to have tissues handy “as we reflect upon our time as students here at Hampton.”
“If anyone forgot tissues,” she continued, “my mom (Hampton Schools Office Manager Jami Scheidemann) has a purse full, because I’m a crier. And it’s okay, all tears – happy, sad, ugly, you name it – are welcome here today.” 
Giving the salutatorian address was Raegan Hansen, who began her speech by admitting she was terrified to speak in public. 
“Even writing this speech, I was shaking, but I will try my best to relax, so bear with me,” she said, showing little sign of nerves. “I want to begin this speech by thanking everyone for being here today and for supporting us as we celebrate the end of our high school careers and take the next step in our lives. I came up with the idea to ask all the high school teachers what one word they would choose to describe our class. Most gave more than one word, which was no shock, and some actually followed instructions.”
“Now, if you were at prom this year or know Mr. (science teacher Gary) Richards, what he chose would not be a shock,” Hansen continued. “He said we are a bunch of skibidi Ohio rizzlers, and I guess that means we are awkward at flirting. I’m not sure if he knew that’s what it meant. I think he just likes saying it.”
Hansen said other words chosen by staff members to describe the class included  “idiosyncratic,” “eccentric,” “ funny and out of pocket,” “chaotic,” “bubbly,” “eclectic” and “go-getters.” 
“Mr. Alexander chose ‘potpourri,’ which means a collection of various people mixed together – a mix of talents, personalities, and work ethics that come together and somehow just work,” she continued. “Mrs. Shendt chose ‘vibrant,’ Mr. Miller said we are a talented class and lastly, Ms. Torson chose ‘unique.’”
“If you didn’t know us, you do now,” she said. “‘Cause these are words from many people who have spent lots of time with us, whether they wanted to or not. So, thank you, teachers, for dealing with our crazy, chaotic, strange, out-of-pocket, talented, bad at flirting, mixed personality selves. We wouldn’t be up here if it weren’t for you.”
Hansen went on to pay tribute to Hampton teacher and coach Kyle Ediger, who was killed in a car accident during the class’s freshman year. 
“Thank you for investing your time in us, not only as students and athletes but also as people,” she said. “You are truly missed.”
Valedictorian Macy Miller began her speech by saying, “My classmates told me to keep this short, but guess what… I’m the one with the microphone. But for real, I’ll try not to talk too long.”
Miller said she felt “incredibly honored” to be addressing the graduates and their families and friends, because Hampton School has been more than a school to her.      
“Growing up with my dad (ag teacher Joel Miller) as a teacher meant that I was around the school long before I was technically supposed to be,” Miller said. “I have memories of running through the halls, sitting in classrooms after hours and learning life lessons from staff members who felt more like family than faculty. I’ve been blessed to grow up under the guidance of people who have not only educated me, but have supported, encouraged, and believed in me — and all of us — every step of the way.”
Miller devoted most of the remainder of her talk to what she called a “trip down memory lane,” relating that she is one of a very few members of the class who spent her entire educational career at Hampton. 
“The original kindergarten crew — Bryce and Kiersten (Joseph), Skyler (Scheidemann), Koby (Bowman), and I — started this journey together,” she said. “We’ve grown up side by side, from snack time and story hour to ACT prep and senior skip day. In first grade, we welcomed CoralAnn (Van Landingham) into our little class, and she quickly became one of us.”
Miller went on to list when each classmate was added to the group of 14 and then took time to mention each classmate by name, giving a personal remembrance and an encouraging word to each. 
“And to my classmates, thank you,” Miller concluded. “Thank you for growing up with me, for sticking with each other, and for building a community that feels more like family. As we close this chapter, let me leave you with this: Life isn’t always going to go according to plan. It’s going to throw us curve balls, roadblocks, and maybe a few pop quizzes we didn’t study for. But we’ve spent the last 13 years learning how to handle challenges, how to lean on each other, and how to keep moving forward.”
Miller closed her address by saying, “So as we walk out of these doors one last time as the Class of 2025, don’t just chase your dreams — run after them full speed. Be brave. Be kind. Be unapologetically yourself. And no matter where life takes you, never forget where you came from: the little village of Hampton, where 14 kids became a family. Congratulations, Class of 2025. We made it!”
Other elements of the program included a mixed choir, which consisted of underclassmen and most of the senior girls, singing “I Am Still Your Dreamer,” the presentation of flowers by the graduates to their parents and other family members, the class slide presentation, the Concert Band playing “Thunderbird,” the presentation of scholarships, and, finally, the awarding of the diplomas by School Board President Grant Dose. 
In his closing remarks Class of 2025 member Jameson Doyle noted that the moment they had been looking forward to for so long had finally come, and then went on cite the lasting imprint the school had left on each of the graduates. 
“Through all the ups and downs, we have persevered,” he said. “Although this is our last day as students, we will forever be Hampton Hawks.”