On Friday, May 17, 87 Wright City High School seniors will receive their diplomas and journey into the next phases of their lives.The ceremony for the Class of 2019 will take place on the high school football field, beginning at 7:30 p.m.Principal Matt Brooks is optimistic that good weather will keep commencement ceremonies outside this year. If not, the ceremony would be moved into the gymnasium. If a decision needs to be made, it will be made Friday morning and the community will be notified through social media and email.This year’s graduation will include a keynote address from teacher Bill Schaffer, who was chosen by the student body to speak.Those in attendance will hear from five members of the senior class, in a rather unique circumstance. Among them are Kylie Helmig, Emily Gillie, Morgan Rohan and William Pohl, along with Class President Riley Heiliger.The high school band will play “Pomp and Circumstance,” by Elgar, along with the selection “Children of a Different Sun” by Roland Barrett.Brooks says this year’s class is both accomplished and connected.“It’s a fairly close-knit class,” said Brooks. “They care about each other a lot and that comes through in a lot of their efforts. They are determined.”This year’s senior class saw the introduction of several new extracurricular offerings.“It’s a year of first athletically with adding wrestling and having a senior get second place in state,” said Brooks. “And then we have girls soccer make it to the district championship in the first year.”The Class of 2019 has demonstrated diverse skill sets and will disperse itself in a number of directions, including college, tech school and the workforce.“There’s a lot of different paths they’re looking to go into after high school,” said Brooks. “They are some varied tasks, and I feel like they’re all suited to succeed.”

Graduates at the 2018 Wright City High School commencement.

Record file photo