TFHS Class of 2020

Thirteen years ago, Lily the boxer puppy watched Carson Alexander get on the bus for his first day of kindergarten. On Sunday, Lily was there at Thompson Falls High School's Previs Field to watch Carson graduate with the Class of 2020. To make the moment even more special, it was Lily's 13th birthday.

The commencement ceremony in Thompson Falls was filled with remembrance and accolades for the seniors. The class chose teacher Cory Kump as their speaker. Kump taught the Class of 2020 as fifth graders in 2012. It was his first year as a teacher.

"In 2012 you guys were in fifth grade," Kump said. "And I'm still in fifth grade."

During his speech, Kump gave the graduates advice ranging from getting a credit card and using it responsibly to voting. He focused on the past, present and future. Reminding the class how important they were to him his first year of teaching, he held up an envelope that contained letters his students wrote him before he started teaching them in fifth grade.

"My most important piece of advice – go fishing," Kump said. "Some of my best decisions in my life came when I was on the river."

Kump ended his speech with the same words he said he gave the students at the end of their fifth-grade year. "Believe in yourself. Dream. Try. Do Good. I'm proud of you all. Class dismissed."

Valedictorian Ethan Brown addressed his classmates, as did Salutatorian Daniel Ryan. Brown noted that the students were born in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, and were graduating amid a pandemic. He challenged the students to not think about the things they could have done, but about the things they did do.

Graduate Ryan Schraeder led the students in a moment of remembrance for those they lost, including their classmate Luke Comerford, Superintendent Bill Cain and six-year-old Harlee Salmi. The students then released balloons into the overcast spring sky.

High School Counselor Jodi Morgan highlighted the students who enlisted in the military and other accomplishments for the class of 2020. She noted that the class of 40 students collectively received almost $600,000 in scholarships and awards.

The graduation took place on the school's football field, with each student allowed two people on the field due to Montana still being in Phase One of the COVID-19 reopening. The students and their family members were spaced six feet apart on the field. Each student also had one vehicle of family members lined up along the track.

Following the ceremony, community members lined Main Street in Thompson Falls for a parade of graduates. Families decorated vehicles and graduates waved to family and friends who cheered the parade.