Nine North Olympic Peninsula high schools will confer diplomas on more than 600 students this weekend.
Members of the Class of 2016 from Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, Quilcene, Chimacum, Forks, Neah Bay, Clallam Bay and Crescent high schools will walk across the stage in front of their families and friends during ceremonies set Friday and Saturday.
The number of graduates in each class is estimated until all final grades and exam results are complete.
Port Angeles High School
The Port Angeles School District will award diplomas to about 250 members of the Roughriders Class of 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Civic Field, with entrances on Race Street between East Second and East Fourth streets.
Port Angeles High School student speakers will be Elliott Foelter and Mathilde Warda.
Tickets are required for entry to the graduation ceremony and were issued to students to distribute to family and friends.
An all-night graduation party will be held after the ceremony at the Vern Burton Community Center.
Sequim High School
The Sequim School District will award diplomas to 224 members of the Wolves Class of 2016 at 6 p.m. Friday at the Sequim High stadium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
The school will have six valedictorians: Eric Michael Anderson, Karen Chan, Jessica Lynn Craig, Alexis Paige Cromer, Blake Robert Eriks, Audrey Maureen Shingleton.
Port Townsend High School
Port Townsend School District will award diplomas to members of the Redhawks Class of 2016 at 7 p.m. Friday.
The ceremony will be at McCurdy Pavilion, 200 Battery Way, Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.
Quilcene High School
Quilcene School District will award diplomas to 20 members of the Rangers class at 2 p.m. Saturday at Quilcene High gymnasium at 294715 U.S. Highway 101.
The commencement speaker will be James Weller.
The valedictorian is Megan Weller and the salutatorian is Alexandrea Johnsen.
Chimacum High School
The Chimacum School District will award diplomas to about 86 members of the Cowboy Class of 2016 at 1 p.m. Saturday at McCurdy Pavilion.
Elected student speakers will be Samuel Golden, Bailey Castillo, Henry Lovekamp.
Speakers also include Senior class president Deidra Morris, elected speaker Jonathon Rogers, valedictorian Olivia Ejde and salutatorian Anda Yoshina.
Forks High School
The Quillayute Valley School District will award diplomas to the Spartans Class of 2016 at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The ceremony will be at the Forks High gymnasium, 261 Spartan Ave.
Neah Bay High School
The Cape Flattery School District will award diplomas to 28 members of the Red Devils Class of 2016 at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Neah Bay High gymnasium, 3560 Deer St.
The Neah Bay valedictorian will be Conor Beh, the salutatorian is Ryan Moss and the class historian is Kristin Smith.
Many of the students will wear woven cedar graduation caps made by family members, a traditional Makah art form updated for modern graduates.
After the ceremony, graduates will exit to take part in another tradition in which the community comes out to shake their hands and congratulate them at the circular planter outside of the school.
Students then will return to the gymnasium for a reception.
Clallam Bay High School
Cape Flattery School District will award diplomas to 10 members of the Bruins Class of 2016 at 7 p.m. Friday at the Clallam Bay High gymnasium, 16933 state Highway 112.
A reception will follow in the school cafeteria.
Seth Wonderly was named the Clallam Bay class valedictorian. Class historian is Kyle Keys.
Crescent High School
Crescent School District will award diplomas to 11 members of the Loggers Class of 2016 at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Crescent High gymnasium, 50350 state Highway 112.
Speakers will be Helen Laspovica, a high school English teacher, and a graduating senior.
Two commencement ceremonies are planned next week.
They are for Lincoln High School in Port Angeles and for Peninsula College.
Lincoln High School
Port Angeles School District will award diplomas to 17 members of the Wildcats Class of 2016 at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The ceremony will be at the Peninsula College Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Student speakers are Nick Lewis, Cheyenne Sprouffske.
Peninsula College
Peninsula College will award more than 500 degrees and certificates during its commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. June 18 at the Peninsula College gymnasium, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
The commencement keynote speaker will be State Representative Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim.
He represents the 24th Legislative District, which covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
The student speaker will be Running Start student Mia Steben of Sequim.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated to correct Fork High School’s nickname.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
