By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWhen this year’s group of seniors at Wright City High School were freshmen, Principal Shawn Brown recalled the first time administrators met with the class.“This group of freshmen came to us with a reputation,” he quipped.That day, Brown challenged them to shed the label and go down a different path. The seniors capped a dramatic transformation between the first day of their freshman year to Friday’s commencement ceremony.Check out the complete photo gallery from the ceremony here: http://bit.ly/1PQJ3o8“These seniors have achieved unprecedented success in the last four years,” Brown remarked. “We have risen to become one of the most improved school districts and one of the highest achieving high schools in the state of Missouri.”Brown noted seniors were awarded about $160,000 in college scholarships and performed well in a variety of areas, including ACT tests and advance placement tests. Beyond the classroom, the senior class stood out athletically, with the boys basketball team enjoying one of its best seasons in recent years and the baseball team winning 20 of 25 games in the regular season.“Wow, what a difference four years make,” Brown said. “I commend you for your dedication and the pursuit of success.”Ninety seniors received their diplomas on a pleasant spring evening on the high school football field. This was the second year in a row the ceremony was held outdoors.Emily Janowski was recognized as the Female Student of the Year, while Devin Telkamp was honored as the Male Student of the Year. Both seniors were selected by high school faculty from the group of monthly winners during the past school year.Also recognized were students who received cum laude status. Student speakers were Payton Heiliger, Rachel Taylor and Janowski.In her address to graduating seniors Heiliger, the class president, noted that you can’t help but look back during a time such as graduation.“We stand here today on the edge of the future,” she said. “It begins here, it begins today. It will be bittersweet to watch each one of us travel down our own path of life. I am confident we will face these challenges straight on with our heads held high.”Janowski said she can’t wait to meet up in the future to see how well her classmates are faring.“I cannot wait to see and hear what you make of your lives,” she remarked. “I hope it brings everything you imagined. You have all touched part of my life. With you all, I would not have become the person I am today. Therefore, I want you to continue to touch the lives of others as long as you live.”Taylor noted the past 13 years have been a crazy journey, one where most of this year’s seniors met as kindergartners and picked up other classmates along the way.“We all know each other,” she said. “We know what is gong on in each other’ lives. I know I can count on any one of you if I ever need it.”Rick Halteman, a math teacher, mixed some humor with some advice during his faculty keynote address. He told the seniors that success is not always guaranteed and to be resilient for the challenges that lie ahead.He also offered a piece of advice for the seniors to not let others define who they are as they move on in their journey.“I don’t believe success is defined by the kind of car you drive or amount of money you make,” Halteman said. “I believe it is defined living your life with integrity and not giving in to peer pressure trying to be something you’re not. I hope you work hard and chase after your dreams and accomplish great things. But I hope along the way you stay true to yourself.”WCHS commencement ceremony