2022 Pequot Lakes and Pine River-Backus Graduations Keepsake Edition

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 | ECHO JOURNAL

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Be grateful for this community and its people

By Emily Hanneken and Claire Dahl Pine River ood evening, everyone. My name is Emily Hanneken, and I am the valedictorian of the Class of 2022.

I have had the privilege of attending Pine RiverBackus schools for my entire life. And that is exactly what it has been: a privilege. I am extremely grateful that I was able to grow up in a community that is tightknit and supportive, and I will always have a special place in my heart for Pine River.

Hello, my name is Claire Dahl, and I am the salutatorian of the Class of 2022. What a gift it has been to grow up and to experience this close-knit community that is Pine RiverBackus. From the ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) classes as toddlers, through this, our graduation day.

We have so much to be thankful for in all that’s been invested in us through academics, athletics, arts and all that this community embodies.

That first day of school for most of us began with a lighthearted greeting from our bus drivers.

Through the years they safely transported us to field trips, band trips and sporting events. We will never forget when something went wrong, it was always Danny’s fault, whether it was actually his fault or not, he was always the one to blame. If we are being honest, that still holds true to this day.

Mr. Johnson’s fourthgrade class was the tug of war champions, as morning workouts were a part of every classroom day. This taught several of us the importance of dedication and hard work, which were very important qualities to have moving forward.

Several large projects consumed most of our time in sixth grade, as we thought nothing in life could be more difficult than the Minnesota project being due the same week as the science fair project.

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Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

Valedictorian Emily Hanneken and salutatorian Claire Dahl couldn’t resist lighthearted jokes about their unique classmates during their Pine River-Backus graduation speech on Friday.

Spoiler alert, it does get worse. But a big thanks anyways to Mr. Ramler and Mr. Scott for guiding us in the success of these projects.

A couple of other highlights from elementary school include ROAR (Responsible, On task, Always safe, Respectful) rallies, traffic safety patrol leading to head lice outbreak among the patrolers who shared vests, Ms. T’s catcha-kid store, AR hats, Dr. Seuss week, Mrs. Holden’s therapy balls, track and field days, and a visit from the fire department.

High school has formed entrepreneurs such as Randall Yost, who started “Yost & Son’s Trove of Treats” as a way to pay for his gas needs. By the way, to fulfill all your snack and beverage needs, please see Randall Yost after the conclusion of this program.

Other memorable

moments with the class of 2022 include several of our wrestlers making a state appearance, our Knowledge Bowl team making it to state, and Randall Yost making it to state in speech for storytelling. We can also never forget the underdog win against Ada-Borup for our homecoming football game and our volleyball team advancing to section finals against Walker.

We thank our student crowds for the creative themes throughout all the sports seasons, specifically highlighting the lampshades worn

congratulations

class of

2022

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to the classroom. This allowed us to create many unique memories that could only be achieved through the atmosphere of a smaller school with considerate and involved teachers, custodians that keep the cleanest school in the area, and hard working lunch ladies that provide meals for us everyday.

To our classmates: We urge you to remember your roots. No matter where life takes you, we always want you to remember this school and this community.

It is a part of all our stories, and it played a major role in creating

the people we are today.

Even though some of you may be eager to leave, we never want you to take the time you had here for granted. We will never experience these exact moments again. We will no longer all share classes, eat lunch in the cafeteria or argue whether Connor could beat a bald eagle in a fight, (I’m Team Eagle, by the way).

Pine River has given each of us a sense of belonging and purpose, as well as positive memories that will last forever.

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Congratulations

Best Wishes to all area graduates!

Happy Graduation!

THE BACKUS AMERICAN LEGION

on the heads while holding newspapers, the senior citizen theme, the hunting theme and many more. No matter where we all go, I want you to remember that we will always be connected and share these memories.

Our class was so incredibly unique in the way that even if we didn’t always get along, we were still close and accepting of our differences. In fact, we celebrated our differences. We appreciated the diversity that our different personalities and backgrounds brought

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Find your tribe and remember this community

By Melanie Lindquist and Stacy Meyers elanie Lindquist: Welcome! We’d like to first thank the Pine River-Backus School Board and the PR-B graduating Class of 2022 for having us here tonight. What an honor!

My name is Melanie Lindquist and I am the French teacher at the high school. I am also Evan’s mom.

Stacy Meyers: I am Stacy Meyers. I am Rausie’s mom.

And to give you a little introduction of who we are and where we first met: Our kids were in karate together at the ages of 4 and 5.

We lived in different communities, and I only knew Melanie taught at the school where I graduated - these very halls of Pine RiverBackus.

Rausie and Evan were members of this graduating class, but at different times, and never together.

They were friends first, before they even Photos by Travis Grimler / Echo Journal entered school. So our As mothers of deceased members of the Pine River-Backus High School Class of 2022, Stacy Meyers, left, and Melanie Lindquist had paths crossed for the more than enough reason to feel down during their Friday speech, but instead they found opportunities to laugh and smile. first time many moons ago, and then again “Evan’s classmates.” when Melanie became I didn’t know many of Rausie’s French teacher you as individuals yet. in ninth grade.

Then, ninth grade Melanie: Both of us came and the first have a child who is crew of you walked supposed to be sitting through my classroom out there with you - but door. You were older while we acknowledge and I started getting to that, we don’t want know you for YOU. Your what we say tonight to names, personalities be about us and what and interests started to “should have been.” We be more concrete for want to talk about what me and you weren’t just can and will be for YOU. “Evan’s classmates” Stacy: So where do we anymore. begin? We can stand up This senior year, I here and tell you that learned some REALLY you have just conquered interesting things about Mount Everest, but some of you, such as: that’s not true. Mount Brady Bristow studies Everest is yet to come. his feet when he takes a We could also give you shower, Chloe Beavers the cliche speech of describes herself as conquering the world, “aggressively happy” doing great things and and then there’s Brady accomplishing anything Bristow who thinks and everything you put Emily Hanneken is your minds to. “toilet paper,” Danny But the reality is Irish is “la lune” (or the we don’t need to tell The Friday graduation ceremony at Pine River-Backus School was the second time graduates were put into moon) of Cody Deplazes’ you any of that cliche, life, and then there’s chairs close to the audience. Here, half of the class is receiving an ovation from the crowd. boring stuff about your Brady Bristow who futures. And let’s be real that this class has also only academically, but continue to do so. spins a cow in his mind excited to see your - if you guys keep it up, endured. Some of you if he is feeling bored, all around. I have known journeys unfold.

You have shown you’ll do just fine! You and according to Liam Melanie: Many of some of you dating back have lost parents. Others perseverance and have already done great Peterson, all the senior to elementary wrestling you came onto my resilience that is have lost siblings. You things and know what girls apparently had a radar at a very young days of mohawks, and admirable. Your class have lost classmates in it takes. I mean, we do “Jake Mills” phase at age in preschool or yet some I have only even made it through tragic accidents. And have an Eagle Scout and some point and then kindergarten. Some of recently had the honor these are only the things online classes during state wrestling champ there’s Brady Bristow ... you are my friends’ to get to know. But COVID, including band we KNOW about. Many, gracing our presence. If oh yeah, I have talked kids. Some of you were wow, what an amazing, and choir! I think Mr. if not all of you, have those were easy tasks, enough about you, Brady. in Evan’s class. In unique, kind, generous, endured trials that were Kinser and Mrs. Davis we’d have dozens of the aftermath of the funny group! I am in would agree to those not apparent on the MOMS: Page B4 you. accident, you were all awe of your “giddy up extreme challenges. outside.

Melanie: We also You have made both of and go” attitudes.

Stacy: You have want to acknowledge Keep it up! We are us extremely proud not conquered, and will the absolute heartbreak

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a salute to the class of

Congratulations Class of 2022!

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As each one of us leaves the “nest,” so to speak, we need to keep in mind that life will not be perfect.

If our whole school experience has taught us anything, it should be that life is too short to worry about or be negative. There are many things that are simply out of our control, and sometimes all we can do is make the best out of a negative situation.

Positivity is a choice that becomes easier the more often you choose it. I’ve personally never been a big fan of change, but I think it’s beautiful in a way that things do change for better or for worse.

When you go away, don’t let the world change you. Instead, you go and change the world with all the gifts

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 | ECHO JOURNAL

that have made you the strong person you are.

The amazing part about change is that we learn and we grow with it because it is a part of life.

If there is one thing we want you to take away from our speech it is this: Be grateful. Be grateful for the community that you grew up in, be grateful for the gifts you have been blessed with, and be grateful for the people who have supported you throughout your life because their investment in you has helped shape who you are today.

We just ask you to be grateful.

Class of 2022, we are very excited to see where life takes us, and we wish you all the very best of luck in your future endeavors.

Emily Hanneken is the valedictorian and Claire Dahl is the salutatorian for the Pine River-Backus Class of 2022.

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

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Stacy: Graduating high school is an honor and definitely an accomplishment - BE PROUD! Be very proud!

This is a chapter ending, and endings can be sad or perhaps a bit scary.

This will be the last time you are all together again. I will promise you that. I was told the same thing just a couple years ago. If I told you it was 24 years ago, those of you with good math skills would be able to figure out my age.

So, today is tomorrow’s memory.

Memories are a wonderful place to visit but they can also bring tears. Hopefully happy tears. Today is also the beginning of the rest of your lives. You are about to embark on an incredible journey, a journey that will have twists and turns, highs and lows.

You see, life isn’t a smooth, flat or well paved path. Your journeys will have bumps, turns, hills and valleys - even mountains at times. You are going to be stuck in the mud and perhaps veer off the path altogether.

Melanie: As you move on with your lives, we want you to remember where you came from and how much this community loves you.

In order to make this ride a bit more smooth, and handle those bumps and turns, you’ll need to surround yourself with a tribe; a tribe of people you can count on that

PINEANDLAKES.COM

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

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Stacy: Look around at your classmates sitting next to you. These were your people - your tribe for the last 13 years. They helped you conquer.

Melanie: Look out into the audience this community was also your tribe. This community has been there for us through the most unimaginable tragedies.

Stacy: They showed up, as strong as an army. For that we are forever grateful. We survived because of them. Not on our own. It would have been easy to

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curl up and hide when dealt our cards. They saw to it that we were taken care of.

Find your tribe. Your tribe might be your neighborhood friends in the cul-de-sac. It may be your mommy and me group. It might be your Army Reserve comrades, or perhaps your college dormitory floor. It may

be your co-workers.

Whatever it is, find your people. Find your community. Be someone’s people. Life is much more enjoyable and doable with people you can count on. Your people will change and morph and that is perfectly normal, and OK. I would have never guessed one my best friends would be the girl that had a locker three doors down from me right here in these very halls of Pine RiverBackus! (Caleb Ruhl that’s your mom.)

Melanie: Let’s check in with our people here.

If this applies to you, please stand and remain standing. Ź Which of you students have been at PR-B since kindergarten? Ź Are there any community members out there who graduated from Pine River High School (Go, Tigers!), Backus High School (Go, Wolverines!) or Pine River-Backus High School (Go, Tigers!)? Ź Which of you students have been in an activity at PR-B like theater, speech, sports, band or choir, or other activities like Knowledge Bowl, Student Council or National Honor Society? Ź How many in the

audience have ever watched or attended a sporting event, concert or other school activity? Ź Who has been in a community activity like Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, 4-H or volunteered somewhere in the community? Ź Who has been a part of a church or youth group here? Ź Who in here right now has held a job in our community? Ź Who owns a local business? Ź Who has shopped at a local business? Ź Who received a scholarship last week? Ź Who has been to the Cass County Fair? Ź Who has been to Summerfest or the Parade of Lights?

Stacy: I think that is everyone. You belonged.

You had a sense of belonging. You had a tribe to which you belonged. It was much easier to train and practice with a whole football team, right?

How about memorizing your speech lines? Easier to do with others versus on your own? How about the Student Council decorating for prom or homecoming? Did one person do it all or was it a group effort?

Best Wishes All Area Graduates!

Best Wishes Graduates!

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Congratulations Class of 2022

I think you get the idea. You will be successful and do wonderful things but lean on others. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Notice others when in need.

Melanie: Know that this PR-B tribe will always be a part of you, a community in which you belonged (or perhaps will continue to belong). Stacy and I will always hold you near and dear to our hearts.

You remembered Rausie and Evan. You brought tears and smiles to our hearts. You gave us a sense of belonging to the class of 2022, when our hearts had big holes.

You included them, and us, in your tribe.

So thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

You are all amazing, and your parents should be proud! They raised generous, empathetic children. The future is bright!

Stacy: So find your tribe, no matter how big or small. Remember life is precious. Remember your roots. And remember to be humble on your journeys.

Melanie: Congratulations to the class of 2022. We love you.

B GRERAADTSJOOF G

2022!

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Remember, the average person can achieve greatness

By Sonja Palmer Pequot Lakes ood evening friends, family, faculty and finally, the Class of 2022. My name is Sonja Palmer and today we are here to celebrate our accomplishments.

First, I would like to thank those around us that guided us through the last 13 years of our education. To the staff, you not only taught us skills, but you mentored us through challenging times. To our family, you shaped us into who we are today and supported us through each hardship we faced and each moment of celebration. Thank you for everything you have done.

To the Class of 2022, we are finally here.

Each of us has spent the last four years of our lives writing our own stories, and each of us will continue to write our own stories wherever we go and whatever we do. In many high level English classes you are taught that the final paragraph of a persuasive essay is a call to action. Well, today is the end of our essay.

Graduation is our conclusion. I only hope what I have to say will be your call to action.

William Shakespeare and Channing Tatum once said: “... some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

In life we cannot always count on being born great or having greatness thrust upon us, but no matter who we are, the opportunity to achieve greatness is within our grasp.

Keep in mind that many of our social and political leaders and heroes started their lives as an average person as just one of you and me. Despite the failures and mistakes we will make, and although we may be average, we find that the average can achieve greatness. The world is our oyster and we are ready to shuck it.

Throughout the last four years we have come to define ourselves as Patriots.

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Photos by Dan Determan / Echo Journal

Pequot Lakes’ Sonja Palmer addresses the crowd and her fellow graduates during the school’s graduation ceremony on Friday.

We have been taught to carry ourselves with patriot pride, whatever this means to you.

Well, we are graduating right now.

Even though we can say we are Pequot Lakes alumni, we won’t be able to call ourselves current Patriots anymore. We may not be able to identify ourselves this way, but in these four years we have also learned the synonyms of “patriot.”

These include loyal, honorable, kindhearted, unwavering and simply good. These characteristics will follow each and every one of us as we write our own stories, make our own definitions and create our own paths.

Thank you everyone for making high school what it was. I know greatness exists in each and every one of you.

I know this because that is who we are as Patriots. And I know that this conclusion will make a great introduction to the rest of our lives.

Pequot Lakes graduates toss their caps in the air after receiving their diplomas on Friday.

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Sonja Palmer is a Pequot Lakes High School graduating senior.

Class of

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2022 Nic Kotaska shakes hands with school board member Curt Johnson as he receives his diploma.

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Congratulations Class of 2022!

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Photos by Dan Determan / Echo Journal

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Our words have consequences; our actions are remembered

By Emma Johnson and Olivia Armstrong Pequot Lakes ello everyone, my name is Emma Johnson, and my name is Olivia Armstrong. We would like to start off by giving a huge shout out to the one, the only, Class of 2022.

Despite our questionable reputation, it’s been fun.

Playing bike tag on the middle school bike trips, finding creative ways to make balloons at CLC, sabotaging certain substitute teachers and collectively having the worst attendance rate in history are just a small number of the reasons for our claim to fame.

Although our reputation may not be - well, the greatest - I am privileged to be graduating with all of you.

With that being said, I think we need to take the obligatory grad selfie.

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And hold on, I needa get a Ȩɐȭɍ We would like to walk you through some of the life lessons we’ve learned this year. Ź Lesson 1: No matter how early you turn in your comp paper, Mrs. Klein will not have it graded for at least two weeks. Maybe three, depending on how much bingo she played that weekend. Ź Lesson 2: Don’t steal the toilet paper in the bathroom, or the toilet itself. Ź Lesson 3: No more crowd surfing at prom apparently. Ź Lesson 4: Senior girls are really bad at football. Ź Lesson 5: No matter what answer you give Mr. Martig, it will always be wrong. Ź Lesson 6: If you have a headache, you threw up or even broke a bone, the nurse will give you an ice pack.

.DUWHU /HH UHFHLYHV KLV GLSORPD IURP VFKRRO ERDUG PHPEHU $P\ 6MREODG GXULQJ WKH 3HTXRW /DNHV JUDGXDWLRQ FHUHPRQ\ Ź Lesson 7: No matter how cool you think you are, you probably peaked in high school. Ź Lesson 8: If you’ve missed one hour of school, you will only get one hour of detention. If you’ve missed five days of school ... you will still get one hour of detention. Ź Lesson 9: Patti Buell makes really good brownies, if you know you know. Ź Lesson 10: No matter the road conditions, there is no reason you need three

parking spots. We already have a crowding problem. Ź Conclusion: After all of these lessons, the most valuable one we have learned is to make the most of every day.

No matter how much you don’t want to do something, do it anyway. This may sound cringey, but high school is honestly what you make of it.

So future seniors: Dress up for the dress up days and sporting events. Don’t worry about how stupid you look or will look doing something

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Emma Johnson and Olivia Armstrong are Pequot Lakes graduating seniors.

Congratulations Graduates!

Congratulations 2022 Graduates!

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because someone will always be there to look more stupid.

Join the sport that you’ve wanted to join. If you’re not a sports person, join a club, stay involved, try something new, go to the school events that you don’t want to go to because that’s what makes school fun.

And to the Class of 2022, remember that our words have consequences and our actions are remembered. Well peace out. It’s been real.

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Photos by Dan Determan / Echo Journal

High school principal Aaron Nelson gives his last piece of advice to the Class of 2022 on Friday during Pequot Lakes graduation ceremony.

Wherever you go, whatever you become — you’ll always be a Patriot

By Aaron Nelson Pequot Lakes lass of 2022, the last day has arrived and we are in the final hour of your commitment to Pequot Lakes High School.

For many of you, you look eagerly upon the next step of your journey, excitedly anticipating what is to come.

For some of you, you look longingly into the past and desiring more of what you had and wishing it would never end.

For all of you, tomorrow will mark the beginning of the next stage of your life whether you are ready or not.

Tonight is the last time all of you will be together

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as a class, the last time you may see some of your classmates, and the last time you will be PLHS students.

Tomorrow you will be a Patriot alumni.

Class of 2022, as life leads you on the many paths you choose or do not choose, do me this favor - remember that first you were a Patriot.

What you will become is an honor to this institution, this staff, the people that come after you. You will soon adopt other identities and travel to many places far from Pequot Lakes.

You may reminisce about your time at PLHS or you may leave here and never look back.

All this will contribute to the future experience

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of this great community and nation. Wherever you go, whatever you become there is one thing that you will always be - a Patriot.

Make us proud, Class of 2022.

Aaron Nelson is the Pequot Lakes High School principal.

The Pequot Lakes choir performs “Seize the Day” during the graduation ceremony.

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WAY TO GO 2022 GRADS Maya Orvis takes her diploma from school board member Amy Sjoblad.

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Pine River-Backus Class of 2022 2017 May God Be With You On Your Journey

218-587-2250

3874 16th Street SW Backus, MN 56435

MAYTAG • CROSLEY

QUALITY BY LANE • MARSHFIELD

Good Luck Class of 2022

218-818-4419

www.kimbercreekford.com

Congratulations Congrat

ulations

!

Dairy Queen

218-763-3000 218-692-2777

CONGRATS GRADS! CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!

16603 State Hwy 371 North, Brainerd/Baxter (Just North of the Pine Beach Rd) schroedersappliance.com• 218-829-3624

SENIOR DISCOUNT THURSDAYS!

218-587-2585

Downtown Pine River

Best Wishes 2022 Grads!

Pine River, Minnesota

to all area graduates!

Gardiner’s Appliance Gardiner’s Furniture

Current Owner of 14 Years

Chris Wohlers

Gardiner’s

218-568-5440 • PEQUOT LAKES PINE RIVER • NISSWA

B8 |

GRADUATION

|

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 | ECHO JOURNAL

PINEANDLAKES.COM

Dan Determan / Echo Journal

A patriotic scene from the Pequot Lakes High School graduation ceremony on Friday.

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

One family member was not as excited to see Pine River-Backus graduate Logan Sawyer in his cap and gown after the ceremony on Friday.

$ 3LQH 5LYHU %DFNXV JUDGXDWH VKRZV Rႇ KHU GLSORPD Friday during graduation.

Congratulations to all area graduates!

Catering Available Crosslake

692-4800

Best of Luck Seniors

COUNTRY DOC VETERINARY CLINIC

Dr. Kyle Adkins, DVM 5508 County Road 1 Pine River, MN 56474 Phone: 218-587-4196 Fax: 218-587-2491 www.veterinariancountrydocpineriver.com

Dan Determan / Echo Journal

Pequot Lakes seniors walk around the high school track at graduation Friday.

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Tim Sweet 218-587-5050 218-820-3159 Cell

Congratulations 2022 Graduates!

Voted the Lakes Area’s #1 Best Auto Dealer

Good Luck Grads!

Congrats Graduates!

112 Front St. N. Pine River, MN buyasweetcar@gmail.com

www.moonlitebay.com • 218-692-3575

Open Daily at 11AM • CR #66 & #16 on Beautiful Crosslake Like us on Facebook for specials and fun events

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Baxter 218.828.9545 TOLL FREE 877.338.3937