56 BHS Grads Receive Diplomas

Confetti showered 56 Bourbon graduates Thursday night as the Class of 2023 completed their high school journey.

Held in the confines of the gymnasium, a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd of friends and families beamed as the graduates celebrated of their last times together.

The event showcased the dedication and hard work exhibited by the students throughout their 13 years of schooling, especially in the face of the challenges posed by the global pandemic.

The ceremony featured student speeches from valedictorian Karissa Gibbs, salutatorian Ella Eichwald and class president Lacie Volkmann.

Assistant Principal Jessica Becker recognized the Top 10 percent, which included:

-Karissa Gibbs

-Ella Eichwald

-Paris Gobin

-Joshua Burns

-Michael Zuzack

-Natalie Dowell

BHS Principal Matt Peregoy gave the parting words to the graduates. Peregoy kneeled down and sat on the edge of the stage, a box placed next to him that he called his “box of advice.”

One by one he pulled out items of the box he said they would need for adulthood, including a coffee cup (“you’re going to need caffeine in the morning”); rice and ramen noodles (“you have to eat and this may be the only thing you can afford for awhile”); clean underwear (“you want clean underwear; enough said”); a pillow (getting your rest is important and that’s a good chance for you to make a dream”); work gloves and Muck boots (“sometimes stuff is going to get deep”). 

He also pulled out a journal, saying they have only one story to tell and they should record that. He also pulled out a Bible and told them to get a good “instruction book” to get them through life.

Peregoy closed by telling the story of Monty Roberts, a renowned horse trainer who grew up in poverty and knew a good education was the only way to success.

Given a writing assignment in high school about what he wanted to do when he grew up, Roberts wrote that he wanted to own a ranch and raise racehorses. His teacher gave him an “F” and told him his dream was unrealistic. 

Roberts was given a chance to rewrite the paper for a better grade, but he told the teacher, “you keep your ‘F’; I’ll keep my dreams.”

Peregoy said that chasing his dreams got Roberts ahead in life.

“Don’t be afraid to put on your work gloves and your boots and wade out into the stuff. Even if it gets deep, get a pair of these,” he said, holding up a pair of coverall pants. “Keep going through the stuff. When you get to the other side, you’ll have accomplished something. You’ll have grown more than you’ll be able to imagine. That’s the growth you need to seek in your life.”