Class of '23 turns tassels

The quick turn of a tassel sent 46 young adults into the "real world" on Sunday.

The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Class of 2023 received their diplomas, marking the official start to their post-high school careers. The ceremony capped more than a decade of memories made together and sent the graduates on separate paths to new lives.

"Today is the final step in a long education journey for our seniors and a celebration of the formal education here at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community Schools," said high school principal Nate Hemiller. "These ladies and gentlemen sitting on the gym floor may be leaving H-M-S, but they are beginning their new journey in life."

Class valedictorian Elise Haack addressed her classmates and congratulated them on their "great accomplishment." She was thankful for the memories they made together over the past 13 years and was excited to see where everyone's journey would lead.

She also offered a bit of two-fold advice: Don't forget where you started, and take every opportunity to say "yes."

"Say yes to trying new things, stepping out of your comfort zone, and say yes to helping others and making a difference in someone else's life," she said. "You will never know what could have been if you always stay in your own box or always take the easy route. Branch out and make a difference."

Haack also encouraged her classmates to remember where they came from and be grateful for the teachers, coaches and parents who helped them along the way.

"Don't forget where you became the amazing, hard-working people you are today," she said. "Make a difference no matter where you are, whether it's across the country or right here in northwest Iowa."

Salutatorian Abby Kunzman also addressed her classmates and urged them to cherish the memories they made together. She encouraged them to believe in themselves, act out of kindness and understand that they will make mistakes in life.

"Those mistakes will not define you as a person," she said. "You will learn and you will grow."