Bemidji High School's class of 2024 closes a chapter upon graduation

Daltyn Lofstrom, The Bemidji Pioneer, Minn.
·3 min read

May 25—BEMIDJI — Coinciding with the close of another school year, graduates closed the chapter on their high school careers as

Bemidji High School

recognized the class of 2024 during its commencement ceremony at the Sanford Center on Saturday.

In the spirit of a new start that graduation provides, Superintendent Jeremy Olson offered four pieces of advice to graduates, eager to clinch their diplomas at last.

"Be grateful, be curious, be adaptable and be present," Olson said. "There's a lot more to learn. This may be the end of your high school educational journey, but it is not the end of your education."

In his student address, graduate Seyoung Son noted a bittersweet feeling with the arrival of graduation and wished his class success in their respective paths wherever they lead.

"Maybe we'll drift apart, maybe we'll never meet again. But know this: I will miss growing older with you," Son said. "I can't say how it will turn out but don't forget us. Don't forget this place and don't forget who you used to be. To you, class of 2024, thank you for the best years of my life."

Reflecting on his previous four years at BHS, Zachary Roberts encouraged his fellow graduates to focus on their purpose regardless of their profession.

"The world is more divided now than when we walked the halls of BHS for the first time. There were no wars in Ukraine or Gaza, and we were all wearing masks," Roberts said. "The world has changed and so have we.

"As graduates, it becomes our responsibility to fix the problems in the world that our parents never could, and we've already taken the greatest step toward achieving that. As said by Nelson Mandela, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.' That's what graduation really means to me. It means that we're going to change the world."

Prior to each graduate filing across the stage, BHS Principal Jason Stanoch provided notable stats for the graduating class which included 100 academic letter winners, 55 graduates with grade point averages of 3.9 or higher, 53 honor graduates and 54 members of the National Honor Society.

Two graduates attained National Merit Scholarship commendations along with one semi-finalist for the National Merit Scholarship, which is considered the most prestigious and competitive scholarship in the nation.

Of the graduates, 75 earned 94 medallions across 110 career pathways within the

Bemidji Career Academies.

There were 14 graduates from Lumberjack High School and 22 alternative school graduates. The class also represented 11 tribal nations and had seven international exchange students.

Collectively, the 2024 class earned a total of 1,596 college credits, which equates to more than 13 bachelor's degrees from a four-year university.

Graduates are set to attend an array of colleges including the University of Utah, Grinnell College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the

University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Lastly,

the class earned around $3 million in scholarships,

for which they were recognized at a May 16 senior awards program.

"As you graduate today, your legacy is one of excellence that carries with it the title of Lumberjack," Stanoch left off. "You are, and forever will be, Bemidji Lumberjacks. And Lumberjacks lead the way."

The full graduation ceremony can be viewed on the

Bemidji Area Schools YouTube channel.