Charles City graduates Class of 2023

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Class of 2023 received their diplomas on Sunday, May 21, completing their high school graduation.

Friends and family gathered in the Comet Gym to celebrate the milestone for the 93 high school seniors as they finished a major chapter in their lives and started the next one.

“Up until now, your purpose has been pretty much defined for you,” said Superintendent Dr. Anne Lundquist. “All that’s about to change. Now you get to decide.”

Honoring the highest achieving students of the class, Principal Bryan Jurrens recognized Priscila Benitez Andujar, Maya Bruening, Hannah DeVore, Claire Eckenrod, Anna Herbrechtsmeyer, Brayce Howlett, Nora Hruska, Harper McInroy, Katherine Prichard and Blake Wilson as having the highest 10 cumulative grade point averages among their peers.

Katherine Prichard was named class valedictorian and Harper McInroy was named class salutatorian.

Honor students graduating, with those with a 3.5 GPA or higher designated with a gold cord and members of the National Honor Society, were Priscila Benitez Andujar (gold), Kayden Blunt, Maya Bruening (gold), Zachary Chambers, Elijah Devrell, Hannah DeVore (gold/NHS), Tawny Ebel, Claire Eckenrod (gold/NHS), Ava Ellis (gold), Aliya Elsbury, Patrick Field, Anders Haglund, Anna Herbrechtsmeyer (gold), Brayce Howlett (gold), Nora Hruska (gold), Kassey Kakac (gold), Kayleen Knecht, Hailey Kowalski (gold, NHS), Olivia Litterer, Nathan Lopez, Lilly Luft (gold, NHS), Morgan Maloy (gold), Drew Martin, Kyndra McDonald, Harper McInroy (gold), Jillian Mutch (gold/NHS), Elizabeth Oleson (gold/NHS), Sydney Otto, Eboni Patterson, Reed Peters, Polina Philippova (gold), Katherine Prichard (gold/NHS), Teagan Prigge (gold), Kyia Roths, Delaney Ruzicka, Brennan Schmidt, Janila Toney, Christopher Tull, Abrianna Tynan, Emily Usher, Reign Vallebo, Kirah Vickerman, Natalie White (gold) and Blake Wilson (gold).

Students completing 150 or more hours of community service during their four years in high school, recognized with a silver cord, were Hannah DeVore, Hailey Kowalski, Lilly Luft and Katherine Prichard.

Student Body President Zachary Chambers was the first of two speakers for the senior address. Chambers recollected their collective high school experiences over the last four years, from having their freshman year disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic to perhaps getting robbed off their rightful school spirit awards.

And while the graduation ceremony is for the students, Chambers took a moment to recognize the teachers, staff, board members, volunteers and parents that all worked to help them along the way.

“Thank you for the support over the years in so many ways,” said Chambers.

Following Chambers, Harper McInroy spoke about coming from I.C. into the larger public school and making memories with her classmates that will last a lifetime.

“High school graduation marks a new beginning,” said McInroy. “Someday we’re going to smile and look back at the adults we will become.”

The full Class of 2023 consists of Kristen Aikey, Kaylie Banks, Priscila Benietz Andujar, Caiden Biggerstaff, McCoy Bilharz, Kayden Blunt, Jordan Boyce, Maya Bruening, Alexander Bucknell, Logan Carey, Gerardo Rigo Castaneda, Zachary Chambers, Jared Cook, Elijah Deverell, Hannah DeVore, Ryan Draeger, Tawny Ebel, Claire Eckenrod, Ava Ellis, Breyer Ellison, Aliya Elsbury, Patrick Field, Kate Frein, Logan Friest, Daniel Garcia, Alexandra Griffen, Isabell Griffin, Anders Haglund, Anna Herbrechtsmeyer, Sydney Hinz, William Holzer, Brayce Howlett, Nora Hruska, Kali Jones, Lincoln Joslin, Kassey Kakac, Gage Gilby, Alexis Kirsch, Skilar Kirsch, Kayleen Knecht, Miracle Kolheim, Hailey Kowalski, Jacob Kruger, Tristan Kubik, Sydney Kuhlers, Noah Lavigne, Haley Liddle, Olivia Litterer, Connor Loftus, Nathan Lopez, Lilly Luft, Gage Malena, Morgan Maloy, Drew Martin, Ivan Tamayo Martinez, James Marty Kyndra McDonald, Imigin McHenry, Harper McInroy, Katelyn Miller, Brooklynn Mitchell, Jillian Mutch, Elizabeth Oleson, Sydney Otto, Kaylin Patten, Eboni Patterson, Reed Peters, Ethan Peterson, Trevor Peterson, Polina Philippova, Quinzey Praska, Katherine Prichard, Teagan Marie Prigge, Kyia Roths, Delaney Ruzicka, Brennan Schmidt, Jadince Schuttler, Bailey Schweiger, D’Nesha Smith, Danielle Stewart, Max Tjaden, Janila Toney, Nakila Toney, Christopher Tull, Jamie Tuttle, Abrianna Tynan, Cloey Usher, Emily Usher, Reign Vallebo, Kirah Vickerman, Joel Villagomez, Natalie White and Blake Wilson.