Graduation Keepsake: Shawnee High School

  • Some of the 186 Shawnee graduates make the sign of the wolf as "Hail, Shawnee High School" is sung by members of the SHS Choir. Shown, in the front row, is Bella Koepke, Holly Valentine and Kennedy Santos. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Some of the 186 Shawnee graduates make the sign of the wolf as "Hail, Shawnee High School" is sung by members of the SHS Choir. Shown, in the front row, is Bella Koepke, Holly Valentine and Kennedy Santos. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
  • Shawnee School Board Member Mandy Hillhouse looks up to Noah Cluck after presenting his diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Shawnee School Board Member Mandy Hillhouse looks up to Noah Cluck after presenting his diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
  • Shawnee Graduate Makayla Anderson shakes hands with SHS Principal Matt Johnson after receiving her diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Shawnee Graduate Makayla Anderson shakes hands with SHS Principal Matt Johnson after receiving her diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
  • Shawnee Graduate Randall Ketakeah hollers in excitement after receiving his diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Shawnee Graduate Randall Ketakeah hollers in excitement after receiving his diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
  • Shawnee Graduate Trinity Shirley dances across the stage to accept her diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Shawnee Graduate Trinity Shirley dances across the stage to accept her diploma during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
  • Shawnee Graduate Beau Armitage shakes hands with retiring Alternative Education Director Deborah Watson during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Shawnee Graduate Beau Armitage shakes hands with retiring Alternative Education Director Deborah Watson during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
  • Shawnee Graduate Megan Herd gives a hug to retiring Alternative Education Director Deborah Watson during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Shawnee Graduate Megan Herd gives a hug to retiring Alternative Education Director Deborah Watson during the 126th Shawnee High School Commencement Ceremony on May 16 at FireLake Arena. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan
    Body

    Letter from the Superintendent:

    To the Shawnee High School Class of 2024,

    As we gather to celebrate your remarkable achievements and the end of this significant chapter in your lives, I hope you've had a chance to reflect on the journey that has brought you here. During your time at Shawnee Public Schools, our aim was to provide you with opportunities to explore your passions and gain experiences that would prepare you for the future. This educational journey has enabled you to discover your interests and prepare for the bright future that lies ahead.

    Our mission at SPS has been to create an authentic learning environment, equipping you not only academically but also as responsible citizens ready to engage with a diverse world. Whether you decide to pursue higher education, enlist in the military, or join the workforce, you are armed with the knowledge, skills, and hope necessary to succeed.

    Your journey at SPS has included events that have tested your resilience. You navigated learning during a global pandemic and continued your education even when your school was impacted by a tornado. I am immensely proud of the strength and determination you have shown through these challenges. It's not just the education you received at SPS that will shape your future, but also your compassion, your resilience in the face of adversity, and your dedication to improving yourselves and your community. There is no obstacle you cannot overcome.

    As you step into the next phase of your lives, remember that the experiences at Shawnee Public Schools have laid a solid foundation for a future filled with learning, discovery, and success. Keep exploring, keep experiencing, and most importantly, keep pushing the boundaries of what you can achieve.

    Congratulations once again on your graduation. I look forward to seeing how each of you will use the tools you've gained here to build a future full of hope and promise.

    Go Wolves!

    Dr. Aaron Espolt

    Superintendent