Lincoln seniors graduate Sunday
Commencement for the Lincoln High School class of 2020 will be Sunday, May 31.
Principal Greg Berge said he’s very proud of how this year’s seniors have handled the adversity of graduation during a pandemic.
The class of 2020 has broken records academically with 48 members graduating with high honors.
Each year Berge asks teachers for a word to describe the graduating class. The standout word for him this year was “optimistic.”
“I believe this class has always had a very positive and optimistic viewpoint on the things they do. It is this optimisim that has helped them get through COVID-19 and this optimisim that will help lead them to do great things in the future as well,” he said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will take place in three parts.
The first is a pre-recorded video with speeches from students and others that will go online at 11 a.m. A link to the video will appear on the school website, lake-city.k12.mn.us.
The roll call of graduates will take place between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. outside the foyer doors on Garden Street. Students and their families will drive up, students will pick up their diploma, and depart. Roll call of graduates will be broadcast on Lake Hits 95.
A reverse parade will begin at or a little after 3 p.m. and last for a half hour along North 10th Street, where seniors will be positioned. Cars travelling the parade route will line up along North Seventh Street near Mayo Clinic Health System in Lake City.
Student speakers are elected by their fellow seniors from among the students graduating with highest honors that are willing to deliver a speech. Normally, there are two speakers. But due to a tie for second place, there are three this year: Tori Oliver, Charles Johnson, and Mason West.
Oliver is the daughter of Tracy and Andy Oliver. She is a three-year member of the Lincoln High School National Honor Society, a Lincoln Socratic Challenge Scholar taking five Advanced Placement or college-level courses while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average at Lincoln and has been a school board scholar each year at Lincoln. She was one of the Patton Scholarship award winners for Lake City. She has participated in the Teen Leadership Program, Math League, Business Professionals of America, and Key Club. She plays volleyball and is also a boys basketball manager, and was in track and field in the spring. She is also a member of the band and speech team. Her plans after high school are to attend Drake University where she will pursue a degree in advertising and marketing.
Johnson is the son of Ann and Tom Johnson. He is a member of the Lincoln High School National Honor Society and has been recognized as a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholar Program. He is graduating as a Socratic Challenge Scholar taking six AP or concurrent college courses during his career at Lincoln while maintaining a very high GPA. Charles has been involved in soccer, track, and nordic ski club. Active in band and choir programs at Lincoln, he has performed in jazz, marching band, and Bro Canto as well as concert band and concert choir. Johnson is also involved in Key Club, speech, student council, math league, and the all school play.
His plans after graduation are to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
West is the son of Paula and Lonnie West. He is a member of the Lincoln High School National Honor Society. He is graduating as a Socratic Challenge Scholar taking five AP or concurrent college courses during his career at Lincoln while maintaining a very high GPA. He has been involved in football, wrestling, and baseball where he has been a team captain in all three sports, earning all-conference honorable mention in wrestling. West is also in Business Professionals of America, Teen Leadership Program. He is active in choir programs at Lincoln, performing in Bro Canto and concert choir. Mason was also the school’s ExCel Award winner.
His plans after graduation are to attend the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.