For the past three years, “pride in learning” has adorned Warrenton High School’s letterhead. It was a motto Principal Jeremy Way and other administrators wanted the students to follow. It was this year’s senior class who bought in. “You not only have met that slogan, but succeeded time and time again,” he told the 240 seniors just prior to receiving their diplomas Saturday. Way said that this year’s senior class helped raise the school’s ACT score over the state average, received over $1.2 million in college scholarships, collected items for troops deployed overseas and orphans in Russia, and raised 2,000 pounds of food for area families. On the athletic fields, the football team’s first state championship game appearance not only excited the school, but the entire community and the softball team captured its first district crown since 2001. It was also pointed out that 77 seniors completed the A+ program where requirements include 95 percent attendance, good citizenship, 2.5 grade point average and 50 unpaid tutoring hours, and 60 students were Warrior Red recipients, an honor given to students who go above and beyond the graduation requirements. Because of these accomplishments, “pride in learning” will no longer serve as the school’s adage, Way said. “You have helped restore pride for every Warrior young and old and we will need to raise the bar for future students at Warrenton High School,” he said. “We want you to know you will be missed, but never forgotten.” While nervous about what the future holds, seniors are excited about beginning the next chapter in their lives. “It snuck up on me,” Justin Greene said. “It didn’t feel like it was the last day. We don’t have to come back. It will be nice to not have to come back for classes.” Lynnsi Ridgway agreed. “It's scary, but at the same time it’s time to move on,” she said. Valedictorians were Megan Costello, Michael Hoosier, Jordan Kientzy and Michael Pelts. Salutatorian was Emily Eldridge. Superintendent Dr. John Long reminded seniors that life is unpredictable much like Saturday’s weather. Despite forecasts predicting a strong threat of rain through most of the week, which would have moved the ceremony indoors, seniors and spectators were greeted with sunshine and blue skies on the school’s turf football field. “There will be times in your life when people tell you what you can’t do,” he said. “I have to tell you, people don’t know as much as they think they do. Remember today when you’re sitting out there, sometimes life is not predictable. Sometimes our plans come to fruition in a way other than what we planned.” Indeed, this year’s commencement speaker, Brett Ledbetter, echoed those sentiments. A 2003 graduate and co-founder of I Can Training Basketball Academy, he dealt with his own adversity as a player late in his career. Following a standout career at Warrenton, including leading the state in scoring as a senior, he found that college recruiters ignored his talents until landing at Southwestern Illinois Community late in the recruiting process. Following two successful years there, he reached the Division I level when he signed to play at the University of Idaho. However, he was released from his athletic scholarship following a coaching change and returned to finish out his career at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Through it all, he persevered and managed to stay confident despite the uncertainty. Today he’s holding regular conversations with well-known Division I college basketball coaches as he builds a program designed to improve a player’s skill level. “You have to believe in yourself if anything great is going to be accomplished,” Ledbetter told the graduates.